1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c Copyright (C) 1988-2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
5 @c makeinfo ignores cmds prev to setfilename, so its arg cannot make use
6 @c of @set vars. However, you can override filename with makeinfo -o.
13 @settitle Debugging with @value{GDBN}
14 @setchapternewpage odd
23 @c To avoid file-name clashes between index.html and Index.html, when
24 @c the manual is produced on a Posix host and then moved to a
25 @c case-insensitive filesystem (e.g., MS-Windows), we separate the
26 @c indices into two: Concept Index and all the rest.
30 @c readline appendices use @vindex, @findex and @ftable,
31 @c annotate.texi and gdbmi use @findex.
34 @c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
35 @c This is updated by GNU Press.
38 @c !!set GDB edit command default editor
41 @c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 4.0 OR LATER.
43 @c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
44 @c manuals to an info tree.
45 @dircategory Software development
47 * Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
51 @c man begin COPYRIGHT
52 Copyright @copyright{} 1988-2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
54 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
55 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
56 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
57 Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
58 Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
59 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
61 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
62 this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
63 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
68 This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
70 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, of @cite{Debugging with
71 @value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger} for @value{GDBN}
72 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
73 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
75 Version @value{GDBVN}.
81 @title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
82 @subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
84 @subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
85 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
87 @subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
89 @author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
93 \hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.)\par
94 \hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
95 \hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
99 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
100 Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
101 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
102 Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA@*
103 ISBN 978-0-9831592-3-0 @*
110 @node Top, Summary, (dir), (dir)
112 @top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
114 This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
116 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN}
117 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
118 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
120 Version @value{GDBVN}.
122 Copyright (C) 1988-2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
124 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
125 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
126 software in general. We will miss him.
129 * Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
130 * Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
132 * Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
133 * Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
134 * Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
135 * Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
136 * Reverse Execution:: Running programs backward
137 * Process Record and Replay:: Recording inferior's execution and replaying it
138 * Stack:: Examining the stack
139 * Source:: Examining source files
140 * Data:: Examining data
141 * Optimized Code:: Debugging optimized code
142 * Macros:: Preprocessor Macros
143 * Tracepoints:: Debugging remote targets non-intrusively
144 * Overlays:: Debugging programs that use overlays
146 * Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
148 * Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
149 * Altering:: Altering execution
150 * GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
151 * Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
152 * Remote Debugging:: Debugging remote programs
153 * Configurations:: Configuration-specific information
154 * Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
155 * Extending GDB:: Extending @value{GDBN}
156 * Interpreters:: Command Interpreters
157 * TUI:: @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
158 * Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
159 * GDB/MI:: @value{GDBN}'s Machine Interface.
160 * Annotations:: @value{GDBN}'s annotation interface.
161 * JIT Interface:: Using the JIT debugging interface.
162 * In-Process Agent:: In-Process Agent
164 * GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
166 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
167 * Command Line Editing: (rluserman). Command Line Editing
168 * Using History Interactively: (history). Using History Interactively
170 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
171 * Command Line Editing:: Command Line Editing
172 * Using History Interactively:: Using History Interactively
174 * In Memoriam:: In Memoriam
175 * Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
176 * Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
177 * Maintenance Commands:: Maintenance Commands
178 * Remote Protocol:: GDB Remote Serial Protocol
179 * Agent Expressions:: The GDB Agent Expression Mechanism
180 * Target Descriptions:: How targets can describe themselves to
182 * Operating System Information:: Getting additional information from
184 * Trace File Format:: GDB trace file format
185 * Index Section Format:: .gdb_index section format
186 * Man Pages:: Manual pages
187 * Copying:: GNU General Public License says
188 how you can copy and share GDB
189 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
190 * Concept Index:: Index of @value{GDBN} concepts
191 * Command and Variable Index:: Index of @value{GDBN} commands, variables,
192 functions, and Python data types
200 @unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
202 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
203 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
204 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
206 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
207 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
211 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
214 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
217 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
220 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
221 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
224 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
225 For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
226 For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
228 Support for D is partial. For information on D, see
232 Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
233 @ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
235 Support for OpenCL C is partial. For information on OpenCL C, see
236 @ref{OpenCL C,,OpenCL C}.
239 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
240 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
241 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
245 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
246 it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
249 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
250 using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
253 * Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
254 * Free Documentation:: Free Software Needs Free Documentation
255 * Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
259 @unnumberedsec Free Software
261 @value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
262 General Public License
263 (GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
264 program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
265 freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
266 the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
267 Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
268 Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
270 Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
271 you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
274 @node Free Documentation
275 @unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
277 The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
278 the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
279 include with the free software. Many of our most important
280 programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
281 texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
282 when an important free software package does not come with a free
283 manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
286 Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
287 normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
288 authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
289 copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
290 them from the free software world.
292 That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
293 from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
294 manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
295 only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
296 contract to make it non-free.
298 Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
299 price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
300 charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
301 Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
302 problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
303 are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
304 modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
306 The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
307 free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
308 commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
309 accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
311 Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
312 When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
313 are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
314 provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
315 manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
316 a changed version of the program is not really available to our
319 Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
320 acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
321 author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
322 authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
323 to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
324 may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
325 with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
326 are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
329 However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
330 content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
331 media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
332 obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
333 manual to replace it.
335 Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
336 lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
337 free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
338 the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
339 realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
340 the free software community.
342 If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
343 the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
344 license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
345 don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
346 will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
347 option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
348 what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
349 try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
350 is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
352 You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
353 manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
354 copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
355 improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
356 at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
357 and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
358 Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
359 have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
361 The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
362 published by other publishers, at
363 @url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
366 @unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
368 Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
369 other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
370 development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
371 of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
372 to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
373 file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
374 blow-by-blow account.
376 Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
379 @emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
380 or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
381 omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
384 So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
385 particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
387 Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
388 Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
389 Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
390 Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
391 Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
392 Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
393 John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
394 Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
395 and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
397 Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
398 Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
400 Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
401 in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
402 Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
403 demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
404 much general update work leading to release 3.0).
406 @value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
407 object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
408 Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
410 David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
411 the original support for encapsulated COFF.
413 Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
415 Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
416 Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
418 Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
419 Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
420 Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
421 David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
422 Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
423 Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
424 Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
425 Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
426 Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
427 Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
428 Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
429 Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
430 Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
431 Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
432 Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
433 Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
435 Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
437 Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
440 Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
441 about several machine instruction sets.
443 Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
444 remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
445 contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
446 and RDI targets, respectively.
448 Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
449 command-line editing and command history.
451 Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
452 Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
454 Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
455 He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
458 Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
459 H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
461 NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
463 Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
466 Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
468 Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
470 Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
472 Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
475 Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
477 Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
479 Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
480 nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
482 The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
483 support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
484 (narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
485 compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
486 Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
487 Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
488 provided HP-specific information in this manual.
490 DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
491 Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
493 Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
494 development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
495 fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
496 Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
497 Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
498 Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
499 Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
500 addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
501 JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
502 Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
503 Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
504 Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
505 Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
506 Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
507 Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
509 Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
510 Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
512 Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
515 Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
516 people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
517 Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
518 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
519 Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
520 with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
522 Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
523 unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
524 frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
525 Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
526 libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
527 trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
528 complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
529 Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
530 Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
531 Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
532 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
535 Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
536 Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
537 who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
538 Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
540 Michael Eager and staff of Xilinx, Inc., contributed support for the
541 Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture.
544 @chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
546 You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
547 However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
548 debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
551 In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
552 to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
555 @c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
556 @c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
558 One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
559 processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
560 quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
561 definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
562 session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
563 then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
564 same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
565 @code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
566 procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
575 @b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
579 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
581 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
584 m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
588 Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
591 $ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
592 @c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
593 @c FIXME... format to come out better.
594 @value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
595 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
597 There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
600 @value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
605 @value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
606 rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
607 We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
608 that examples fit in this manual.
611 (@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
615 We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
616 Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
617 @code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
618 @code{break} command.
621 (@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
622 Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
626 Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
627 control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
628 subroutine, the program runs as usual:
631 (@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
632 Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
640 To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
641 suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
642 context where it stops.
645 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
647 Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
649 879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
653 Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
654 the next line of the current function.
658 882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
663 @code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
664 by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
665 @code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
666 subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
670 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
672 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
676 The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
677 suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
678 shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
679 command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
680 in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
681 stack frame for each active subroutine.
684 (@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
685 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
687 #1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
689 #2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
690 #3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
692 #4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
693 #5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
697 We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
698 times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
699 falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
703 0x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
705 0x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
706 def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
708 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
711 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
715 The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
716 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
717 and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
718 (@code{print}) to see their values.
721 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
722 $1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
723 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
724 $2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
728 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
729 To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
730 surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
736 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
738 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
741 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
742 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
749 Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
750 @code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
754 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
757 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
759 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
764 That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
765 @code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
766 @code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
767 the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
768 any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
772 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
774 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
779 Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
780 @code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
781 executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
782 example that caused trouble initially:
788 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
795 Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
796 problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
797 lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
801 Program exited normally.
805 The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
806 indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
807 session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
810 (@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
814 @chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
816 This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
820 type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
822 type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
826 * Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
827 * Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
828 * Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
829 * Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
833 @section Invoking @value{GDBN}
835 Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
836 @value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
838 You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
839 to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
841 The command-line options described here are designed
842 to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
843 options may effectively be unavailable.
845 The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
846 specifying an executable program:
849 @value{GDBP} @var{program}
853 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
857 @value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
860 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
861 to debug a running process:
864 @value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
868 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
869 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
871 Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
872 complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
873 debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
874 ``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
875 will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
877 You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
878 executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
881 @value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
883 This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
884 @code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
886 You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
887 @value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
894 You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
895 options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
905 to display all available options and briefly describe their use
906 (@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
908 All options and command line arguments you give are processed
909 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
910 @samp{-x} option is used.
914 * File Options:: Choosing files
915 * Mode Options:: Choosing modes
916 * Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
920 @subsection Choosing Files
922 When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
923 specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
924 the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
925 @samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
926 first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
927 equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
928 second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
929 equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
930 If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
931 first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
932 to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
933 a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
934 prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
936 If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
937 such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
938 argument and ignore it.
940 Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
941 following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
942 them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
943 (If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
944 than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
946 @c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
947 @c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
951 @item -symbols @var{file}
953 @cindex @code{--symbols}
955 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
957 @item -exec @var{file}
959 @cindex @code{--exec}
961 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
962 and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
966 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
969 @item -core @var{file}
971 @cindex @code{--core}
973 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
975 @item -pid @var{number}
976 @itemx -p @var{number}
979 Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
981 @item -command @var{file}
983 @cindex @code{--command}
985 Execute commands from file @var{file}. The contents of this file is
986 evaluated exactly as the @code{source} command would.
987 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
989 @item -eval-command @var{command}
990 @itemx -ex @var{command}
991 @cindex @code{--eval-command}
993 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
995 This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
996 also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
999 @value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
1000 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
1003 @item -init-command @var{file}
1004 @itemx -ix @var{file}
1005 @cindex @code{--init-command}
1007 Execute commands from file @var{file} before loading the inferior (but
1008 after loading gdbinit files).
1011 @item -init-eval-command @var{command}
1012 @itemx -iex @var{command}
1013 @cindex @code{--init-eval-command}
1015 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command before loading the inferior (but
1016 after loading gdbinit files).
1019 @item -directory @var{directory}
1020 @itemx -d @var{directory}
1021 @cindex @code{--directory}
1023 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
1027 @cindex @code{--readnow}
1029 Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
1030 the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
1031 This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
1036 @subsection Choosing Modes
1038 You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1039 batch mode or quiet mode.
1047 Do not execute commands found in any initialization file.
1048 There are three init files, loaded in the following order:
1051 @item @file{system.gdbinit}
1052 This is the system-wide init file.
1053 Its location is specified with the @code{--with-system-gdbinit}
1054 configure option (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
1055 It is loaded first when @value{GDBN} starts, before command line options
1056 have been processed.
1057 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}
1058 This is the init file in your home directory.
1059 It is loaded next, after @file{system.gdbinit}, and before
1060 command options have been processed.
1061 @item @file{./.gdbinit}
1062 This is the init file in the current directory.
1063 It is loaded last, after command line options other than @code{-x} and
1064 @code{-ex} have been processed. Command line options @code{-x} and
1065 @code{-ex} are processed last, after @file{./.gdbinit} has been loaded.
1068 For further documentation on startup processing, @xref{Startup}.
1069 For documentation on how to write command files,
1070 @xref{Command Files,,Command Files}.
1075 Do not execute commands found in @file{~/.gdbinit}, the init file
1076 in your home directory.
1082 @cindex @code{--quiet}
1083 @cindex @code{--silent}
1085 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1086 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1089 @cindex @code{--batch}
1090 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1091 command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1092 initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1093 nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1094 in the command files. Batch mode also disables pagination, sets unlimited
1095 terminal width and height @pxref{Screen Size}, and acts as if @kbd{set confirm
1096 off} were in effect (@pxref{Messages/Warnings}).
1098 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1099 example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1100 make this more useful, the message
1103 Program exited normally.
1107 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1108 @value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1112 @cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1113 Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1114 @value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1115 unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1116 for an interactive session.
1118 This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1119 messages, for example.
1121 Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1122 writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1124 @item -return-child-result
1125 @cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1126 The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1127 process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1131 @value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1132 internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1133 without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1135 The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1137 The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1138 the exit code will be -1.
1141 This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1142 when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1147 @cindex @code{--nowindows}
1149 ``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1150 (GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1151 interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1155 @cindex @code{--windows}
1157 If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1160 @item -cd @var{directory}
1162 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1163 instead of the current directory.
1165 @item -data-directory @var{directory}
1166 @cindex @code{--data-directory}
1167 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its data directory.
1168 The data directory is where @value{GDBN} searches for its
1169 auxiliary files. @xref{Data Files}.
1173 @cindex @code{--fullname}
1175 @sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1176 subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1177 number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1178 displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1179 recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1180 the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1181 and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1182 @samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1185 @item -annotate @var{level}
1186 @cindex @code{--annotate}
1187 This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1188 effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1189 (@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1190 information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1191 expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1192 normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1193 @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1194 that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1196 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1200 @cindex @code{--args}
1201 Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1202 executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1203 This option stops option processing.
1205 @item -baud @var{bps}
1207 @cindex @code{--baud}
1209 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1210 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1212 @item -l @var{timeout}
1214 Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1215 for remote debugging.
1217 @item -tty @var{device}
1218 @itemx -t @var{device}
1219 @cindex @code{--tty}
1221 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1222 @c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1224 @c resolve the situation of these eventually
1226 @cindex @code{--tui}
1227 Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1228 Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1229 source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1230 (@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Do not use this
1231 option if you run @value{GDBN} from Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,
1232 Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1235 @c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1236 @c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1237 @c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1238 @c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1241 @item -interpreter @var{interp}
1242 @cindex @code{--interpreter}
1243 Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1244 program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1245 communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1246 @xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1248 @samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1249 @value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1250 The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1251 previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1252 selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1253 @sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1256 @cindex @code{--write}
1257 Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1258 is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1262 @cindex @code{--statistics}
1263 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1264 memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1267 @cindex @code{--version}
1268 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1269 no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1271 @item -configuration
1272 @cindex @code{--configuration}
1273 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print details about its build-time
1274 configuration parameters, and then exit. These details can be
1275 important when reporting @value{GDBN} bugs (@pxref{GDB Bugs}).
1280 @subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1281 @cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1283 Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1287 Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1288 (@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1292 Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1293 used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1294 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1297 @anchor{Home Directory Init File}
1299 Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1300 DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1301 @code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1304 @anchor{Option -init-eval-command}
1306 Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-iex} and
1307 @samp{-ix} options in their specified order. Usually you should use the
1308 @samp{-ex} and @samp{-x} options instead, but this way you can apply
1309 settings before @value{GDBN} init files get executed and before inferior
1313 Processes command line options and operands.
1315 @anchor{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}
1317 Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1318 working directory as long as @samp{set auto-load local-gdbinit} is set to
1319 @samp{on} (@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory}).
1320 This is only done if the current directory is
1321 different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1322 init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1323 to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1327 If the command line specified a program to debug, or a process to
1328 attach to, or a core file, @value{GDBN} loads any auto-loaded
1329 scripts provided for the program or for its loaded shared libraries.
1330 @xref{Auto-loading}.
1332 If you wish to disable the auto-loading during startup,
1333 you must do something like the following:
1336 $ gdb -iex "set auto-load python-scripts off" myprogram
1339 Option @samp{-ex} does not work because the auto-loading is then turned
1343 Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-ex} and
1344 @samp{-x} options in their specified order. @xref{Command Files}, for
1345 more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1348 Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1349 @xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1350 files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1353 Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1354 Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1355 file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1356 complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1357 and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1358 option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1360 To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1361 can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1363 @cindex init file name
1364 @cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1365 @cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1366 The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1367 The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1368 the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1369 port of @value{GDBN} uses the standard name, but if it finds a
1370 @file{gdb.ini} file in your home directory, it warns you about that
1371 and suggests to rename the file to the standard name.
1375 @section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1376 @cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1377 @cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1380 @kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1381 @kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1382 @item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1384 To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1385 @code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1386 do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1387 otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1392 An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1393 terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1394 returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1395 character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1396 until a time when it is safe.
1398 If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1399 device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1400 (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1402 @node Shell Commands
1403 @section Shell Commands
1405 If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1406 debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1407 just use the @code{shell} command.
1412 @cindex shell escape
1413 @item shell @var{command-string}
1414 @itemx !@var{command-string}
1415 Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command-string}.
1416 Note that no space is needed between @code{!} and @var{command-string}.
1417 If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1418 shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1419 (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1422 The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1423 You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1428 @cindex calling make
1429 @item make @var{make-args}
1430 Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1431 arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1434 @node Logging Output
1435 @section Logging Output
1436 @cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1437 @cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1439 You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1440 There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1444 @item set logging on
1446 @item set logging off
1448 @cindex logging file name
1449 @item set logging file @var{file}
1450 Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1451 @item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1452 By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1453 you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1454 @item set logging redirect [on|off]
1455 By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1456 Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1457 @kindex show logging
1459 Show the current values of the logging settings.
1463 @chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1465 You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1466 name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1467 @value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1468 key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1469 show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1472 * Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1473 * Completion:: Command completion
1474 * Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1477 @node Command Syntax
1478 @section Command Syntax
1480 A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1481 how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1482 arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1483 command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1484 step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1485 with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1487 @cindex abbreviation
1488 @value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1489 unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1490 documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1491 abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1492 equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1493 names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1494 arguments to the @code{help} command.
1496 @cindex repeating commands
1497 @kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1498 A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1499 repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1500 will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1501 repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1502 repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1503 @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1505 The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1506 @key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1507 exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1509 @value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1510 output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1511 (@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1512 @key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1513 repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1515 @kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1517 Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1518 nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1519 Files,,Command Files}).
1521 @cindex repeating command sequences
1522 @kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1523 The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1524 commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1525 then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1529 @section Command Completion
1532 @cindex word completion
1533 @value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1534 only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1535 are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1536 commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1538 Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1539 of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1540 word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1541 enter it). For example, if you type
1543 @c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1544 @c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1545 @c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1546 @c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1548 (@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1552 @value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1553 the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1556 (@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1560 You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1561 breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1562 @samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1563 were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1564 might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1565 to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1567 If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1568 @key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1569 characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1570 @value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1571 example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1572 begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1573 just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1574 function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1578 (@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1579 @exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1580 make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1581 make_abs_section make_function_type
1582 make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1583 make_cleanup make_reference_type
1584 make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1585 (@value{GDBP}) b make_
1589 After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1590 partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1593 If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1594 can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1595 means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1596 key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1597 one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1599 @cindex quotes in commands
1600 @cindex completion of quoted strings
1601 Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1602 parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1603 its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1604 situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1605 @value{GDBN} commands.
1607 The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1608 name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1609 overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1610 by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1611 may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1612 that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1613 that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1614 word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1615 @code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1616 @value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1617 when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1620 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1621 bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1622 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1625 In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1626 quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1627 completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1631 (@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1632 @exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1633 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1637 In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1638 you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1639 completion on an overloaded symbol.
1641 For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1642 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1643 overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1644 see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1646 @cindex completion of structure field names
1647 @cindex structure field name completion
1648 @cindex completion of union field names
1649 @cindex union field name completion
1650 When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1651 structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1652 confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1653 examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1654 limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1658 (@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1659 magic to_fputs to_rewind
1660 to_data to_isatty to_write
1661 to_delete to_put to_write_async_safe
1666 This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1667 @code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1674 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1675 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1676 ui_file_write_async_safe_ftype *to_write_async_safe;
1677 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1678 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1679 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1680 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1681 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1682 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1689 @section Getting Help
1690 @cindex online documentation
1693 You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1694 using the command @code{help}.
1697 @kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1700 You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1701 display a short list of named classes of commands:
1705 List of classes of commands:
1707 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1708 breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1709 data -- Examining data
1710 files -- Specifying and examining files
1711 internals -- Maintenance commands
1712 obscure -- Obscure features
1713 running -- Running the program
1714 stack -- Examining the stack
1715 status -- Status inquiries
1716 support -- Support facilities
1717 tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1718 stopping the program
1719 user-defined -- User-defined commands
1721 Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1722 commands in that class.
1723 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1725 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1728 @c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1730 @item help @var{class}
1731 Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1732 list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1733 help display for the class @code{status}:
1736 (@value{GDBP}) help status
1741 @c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1742 @c to fit in smallbook page size.
1743 info -- Generic command for showing things
1744 about the program being debugged
1745 show -- Generic command for showing things
1748 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1750 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1754 @item help @var{command}
1755 With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1756 short paragraph on how to use that command.
1759 @item apropos @var{args}
1760 The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1761 commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1762 @var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1773 alias -- Define a new command that is an alias of an existing command
1774 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1775 d -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1776 del -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1777 delete -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1782 @item complete @var{args}
1783 The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1784 for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1785 command you want completed. For example:
1791 @noindent results in:
1802 @noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1805 In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1806 and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1807 of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1808 manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1809 under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Command, Variable, and
1810 Function Index point to all the sub-commands. @xref{Command and Variable
1816 @kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1818 This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1819 program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1820 with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1821 registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1822 You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1823 @w{@code{help info}}.
1827 You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1828 @code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1829 @code{set prompt $}.
1833 In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1834 @value{GDBN} itself.
1835 You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1836 related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1837 system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1838 which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1841 To display all the settable parameters and their current
1842 values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1843 @code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1844 @c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1845 @c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1846 @c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1850 Here are several miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1851 exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1854 @kindex show version
1855 @cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1857 Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1858 information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1859 @value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1860 version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1861 commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1862 system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1863 variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1864 The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1867 @kindex show copying
1868 @kindex info copying
1869 @cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1872 Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1874 @kindex show warranty
1875 @kindex info warranty
1877 @itemx info warranty
1878 Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1879 if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1881 @kindex show configuration
1882 @item show configuration
1883 Display detailed information about the way @value{GDBN} was configured
1884 when it was built. This displays the optional arguments passed to the
1885 @file{configure} script and also configuration parameters detected
1886 automatically by @command{configure}. When reporting a @value{GDBN}
1887 bug (@pxref{GDB Bugs}), it is important to include this information in
1893 @chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1895 When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1896 debugging information when you compile it.
1898 You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1899 of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1900 your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1901 kill a child process.
1904 * Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1905 * Starting:: Starting your program
1906 * Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1907 * Environment:: Your program's environment
1909 * Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1910 * Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1911 * Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1912 * Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1914 * Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1915 * Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1916 * Forks:: Debugging forks
1917 * Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1921 @section Compiling for Debugging
1923 In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1924 debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1925 is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1926 variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1927 and addresses in the executable code.
1929 To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1932 Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1933 optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1934 compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1935 together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1936 executables containing debugging information.
1938 @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1939 without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1940 recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1941 program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1942 in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1944 Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1945 @w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1946 format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1948 @value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1949 expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1950 about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1951 the @option{-g} flag alone. Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC},
1952 the @sc{gnu} C compiler, provides macro information if you are using
1953 the DWARF debugging format, and specify the option @option{-g3}.
1955 @xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
1956 gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}, for more
1957 information on @value{NGCC} options affecting debug information.
1959 You will have the best debugging experience if you use the latest
1960 version of the DWARF debugging format that your compiler supports.
1961 DWARF is currently the most expressive and best supported debugging
1962 format in @value{GDBN}.
1966 @section Starting your Program
1972 @kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1975 Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1976 You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1977 argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1978 @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1979 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1983 If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1984 supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1985 that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1986 @code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1987 like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1988 message like this one:
1991 The "remote" target does not support "run".
1992 Try "help target" or "continue".
1996 then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1997 first (@pxref{load}).
1999 The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
2000 receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
2001 information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
2002 can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
2003 your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
2004 divided into four categories:
2007 @item The @emph{arguments.}
2008 Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
2009 @code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
2010 is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
2011 (such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
2013 In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
2014 @code{SHELL} environment variable. If you do not define @code{SHELL},
2015 @value{GDBN} uses the default shell (@file{/bin/sh}). You can disable
2016 use of any shell with the @code{set startup-with-shell} command (see
2019 @item The @emph{environment.}
2020 Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
2021 use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
2022 environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
2023 your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
2025 @item The @emph{working directory.}
2026 Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
2027 the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
2028 @xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
2030 @item The @emph{standard input and output.}
2031 Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
2032 standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
2033 in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
2034 set a different device for your program.
2035 @xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
2038 @emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
2039 pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
2040 program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
2044 When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
2045 immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
2046 of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
2047 stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
2048 or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
2050 If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
2051 time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
2052 table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
2053 your current breakpoints.
2058 @cindex run to main procedure
2059 The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
2060 With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
2061 other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
2062 main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
2063 execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
2064 procedure, depending on the language used.
2066 The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
2067 breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
2068 the @samp{run} command.
2070 @cindex elaboration phase
2071 Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
2072 executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
2073 languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
2074 constructors for static and global objects are executed before
2075 @code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
2076 before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
2077 will remain to halt execution.
2079 Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
2080 @samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
2081 underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
2082 reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
2083 @samp{start} or @samp{run}.
2085 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
2086 these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
2087 your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
2088 elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
2089 elaboration code before running your program.
2091 @kindex set exec-wrapper
2092 @item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
2093 @itemx show exec-wrapper
2094 @itemx unset exec-wrapper
2095 When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
2096 launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
2097 with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
2098 @var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
2099 arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
2100 appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
2101 your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
2103 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
2104 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
2105 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
2106 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
2108 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
2109 the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
2113 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
2117 This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
2118 @sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2120 @kindex set startup-with-shell
2121 @item set startup-with-shell
2122 @itemx set startup-with-shell on
2123 @itemx set startup-with-shell off
2124 @itemx show set startup-with-shell
2125 On Unix systems, by default, if a shell is available on your target,
2126 @value{GDBN}) uses it to start your program. Arguments of the
2127 @code{run} command are passed to the shell, which does variable
2128 substitution, expands wildcard characters and performs redirection of
2129 I/O. In some circumstances, it may be useful to disable such use of a
2130 shell, for example, when debugging the shell itself or diagnosing
2131 startup failures such as:
2135 Starting program: ./a.out
2136 During startup program terminated with signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
2140 which indicates the shell or the wrapper specified with
2141 @samp{exec-wrapper} crashed, not your program. Most often, this is
2142 caused by something odd in your shell's initialization file---such as
2143 @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, $@file{.zshenv} for the Z shell, or the
2144 file specified in the @samp{BASH_ENV} environment variable for BASH.
2146 @kindex set disable-randomization
2147 @item set disable-randomization
2148 @itemx set disable-randomization on
2149 This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2150 randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2151 is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2152 reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2154 This feature is implemented only on certain targets, including @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2155 On @sc{gnu}/Linux you can get the same behavior using
2158 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2161 @item set disable-randomization off
2162 Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2163 ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2164 disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2165 @value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2166 as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2167 disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2169 On targets where it is available, virtual address space randomization
2170 protects the programs against certain kinds of security attacks. In these
2171 cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2172 code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2173 a code at its expected addresses.
2175 Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2176 makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2177 having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2178 library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2179 misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2180 random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2181 startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2182 a randomly chosen address.
2184 Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2185 similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2186 a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2187 already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2188 executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2190 Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2191 (as long as the randomization is enabled).
2193 @item show disable-randomization
2194 Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2195 the virtual address space of the started program.
2200 @section Your Program's Arguments
2202 @cindex arguments (to your program)
2203 The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2205 They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2206 performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2207 @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2208 @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2209 the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2211 On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2212 @value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2213 calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2214 the program, not by the shell.
2216 @code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2217 @code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2222 Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2223 @code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2224 with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2225 using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2226 it again without arguments.
2230 Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2234 @section Your Program's Environment
2236 @cindex environment (of your program)
2237 The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2238 their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2239 your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2240 path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2241 the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2242 debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2243 environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2247 @item path @var{directory}
2248 Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2249 (the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2250 The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2251 You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2252 system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2253 MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2254 is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2256 You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2257 working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2258 use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2259 @code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2260 @var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2261 @var{directory} to the search path.
2262 @c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2263 @c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2267 Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2268 environment variable).
2270 @kindex show environment
2271 @item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2272 Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2273 your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2274 print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2275 your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2277 @kindex set environment
2278 @item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2279 Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2280 changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
2281 be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
2282 any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2283 parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2285 @c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2286 @c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2288 For example, this command:
2295 tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2296 @samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2297 are not actually required.)
2299 @kindex unset environment
2300 @item unset environment @var{varname}
2301 Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2302 program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2303 @code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2304 rather than assigning it an empty value.
2307 @emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2309 by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
2310 @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
2311 that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
2312 @file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
2313 your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
2314 files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
2317 @node Working Directory
2318 @section Your Program's Working Directory
2320 @cindex working directory (of your program)
2321 Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2322 working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2323 The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2324 from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2325 working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2327 The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2328 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2333 @cindex change working directory
2334 @item cd @r{[}@var{directory}@r{]}
2335 Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}. If not
2336 given, @var{directory} uses @file{'~'}.
2340 Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2343 It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2344 the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2345 during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2346 configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2347 proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2348 current working directory of the debuggee.
2351 @section Your Program's Input and Output
2356 By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2357 the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2358 to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2359 modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2360 running your program.
2363 @kindex info terminal
2365 Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2369 You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2370 redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2377 starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2380 @cindex controlling terminal
2381 Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2382 with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2383 argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2384 commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2385 process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2392 directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2393 default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2394 that as their controlling terminal.
2396 An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2397 effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2400 When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2401 command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2402 for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2403 for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2405 @cindex inferior tty
2406 @cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2407 You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2408 display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2412 @item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2413 @kindex set inferior-tty
2414 Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2416 @item show inferior-tty
2417 @kindex show inferior-tty
2418 Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2422 @section Debugging an Already-running Process
2427 @item attach @var{process-id}
2428 This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2429 outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2430 targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2431 find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2432 or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2434 @code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2435 executing the command.
2438 To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2439 which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2440 programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2441 also have permission to send the process a signal.
2443 When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2444 the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2445 the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2446 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2447 the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2450 The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2451 process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2452 with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2453 you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2454 can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2455 process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2456 attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2461 When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2462 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2463 the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2464 that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2465 are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2466 @code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2467 executing the command.
2470 If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2471 that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2472 By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2473 things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2474 @code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2478 @section Killing the Child Process
2483 Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2486 This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2487 running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2490 On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2491 while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2492 @code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2493 outside the debugger.
2495 The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2496 relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2497 executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2498 next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2499 reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2500 breakpoint settings).
2502 @node Inferiors and Programs
2503 @section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2505 @value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2506 session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2507 several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2508 before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2509 multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2510 from multiple executables.
2513 @value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2514 object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2515 a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2516 have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2517 may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2518 identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2519 inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2520 embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2521 of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2522 threads running in it.
2524 To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2528 @kindex info inferiors
2529 @item info inferiors
2530 Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2532 @value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2536 the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2539 the target system's inferior identifier
2542 the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2547 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2548 indicates the current inferior.
2552 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2555 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2556 Num Description Executable
2557 2 process 2307 hello
2558 * 1 process 3401 goodbye
2561 To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2564 @kindex inferior @var{infno}
2565 @item inferior @var{infno}
2566 Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2567 @var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2568 in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2572 You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2573 @code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2574 systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2575 automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2576 remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2577 @w{@code{remove-inferiors}} command.
2580 @kindex add-inferior
2581 @item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2582 Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2583 executable. @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2584 the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2585 change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2586 @code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2588 @kindex clone-inferior
2589 @item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2590 Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2591 @var{infno}. @var{n} defaults to 1. @var{infno} defaults to the
2592 number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2593 want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2596 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2597 Num Description Executable
2598 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2599 (@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2602 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2603 Num Description Executable
2605 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2608 You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2610 @kindex remove-inferiors
2611 @item remove-inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2612 Removes the inferior or inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}. It is not
2613 possible to remove an inferior that is running with this command. For
2614 those, use the @code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2618 To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2619 inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2620 inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2621 using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}} command:
2624 @kindex detach inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2625 @item detach inferior @var{infno}@dots{}
2626 Detach from the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN}
2627 inferior number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry
2628 still stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors},
2629 but its Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2631 @kindex kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2632 @item kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2633 Kill the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN} inferior
2634 number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry still
2635 stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors}, but its
2636 Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2639 After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2640 @code{detach inferiors}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferiors}, or after
2641 a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2642 @code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2645 To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2646 control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2649 @kindex set print inferior-events
2650 @cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2651 @item set print inferior-events
2652 @itemx set print inferior-events on
2653 @itemx set print inferior-events off
2654 The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2655 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2656 inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2657 detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2659 @kindex show print inferior-events
2660 @item show print inferior-events
2661 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2662 inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2665 Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2666 single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2667 value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2670 Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2671 get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2672 spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2673 info program-spaces}} command.
2676 @kindex maint info program-spaces
2677 @item maint info program-spaces
2678 Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2681 @value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2685 the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2688 the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2689 the @code{file} command.
2694 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2695 indicates the current program space.
2697 In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2698 information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2699 example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2702 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2705 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2709 Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2710 while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2711 some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2712 same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2713 the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2716 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2719 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2722 Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2723 space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2727 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2729 @cindex threads of execution
2730 @cindex multiple threads
2731 @cindex switching threads
2732 In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2733 may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2734 of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2735 the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2736 that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2737 modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2738 registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2740 @value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2744 @item automatic notification of new threads
2745 @item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2746 @item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2747 @item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2748 a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2749 @item thread-specific breakpoints
2750 @item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2751 messages on thread start and exit.
2752 @item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2753 the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2754 isn't compatible with the program.
2758 @emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2759 @value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2760 If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2761 effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2762 from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2766 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2767 (@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2768 Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2769 see the IDs of currently known threads.
2771 @c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2772 @c doesn't support threads"?
2775 @cindex focus of debugging
2776 @cindex current thread
2777 The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2778 threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2779 control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2780 This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2781 program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2783 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2784 @cindex thread identifier (system)
2785 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2786 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2787 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2788 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2789 the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2790 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2791 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2792 @sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2795 [New Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 25582)]
2799 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2800 the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2803 @c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2804 @c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2805 @c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2807 @c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2808 @c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2809 @c threads ab initio?
2811 @cindex thread number
2812 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2813 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2814 number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2817 @kindex info threads
2818 @item info threads @r{[}@var{id}@dots{}@r{]}
2819 Display a summary of all threads currently in your program. Optional
2820 argument @var{id}@dots{} is one or more thread ids separated by spaces, and
2821 means to print information only about the specified thread or threads.
2822 @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2826 the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2829 the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2832 the thread's name, if one is known. A thread can either be named by
2833 the user (see @code{thread name}, below), or, in some cases, by the
2837 the current stack frame summary for that thread
2841 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2842 indicates the current thread.
2846 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2849 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2851 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2852 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2853 * 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2857 On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2858 Solaris-specific command:
2861 @item maint info sol-threads
2862 @kindex maint info sol-threads
2863 @cindex thread info (Solaris)
2864 Display info on Solaris user threads.
2868 @kindex thread @var{threadno}
2869 @item thread @var{threadno}
2870 Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2871 argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2872 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2873 @value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2874 you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2877 (@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2878 [Switching to thread 2 (Thread 0xb7fdab70 (LWP 12747))]
2879 #0 some_function (ignore=0x0) at example.c:8
2880 8 printf ("hello\n");
2884 As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2885 @samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2888 @vindex $_thread@r{, convenience variable}
2889 The debugger convenience variable @samp{$_thread} contains the number
2890 of the current thread. You may find this useful in writing breakpoint
2891 conditional expressions, command scripts, and so forth. See
2892 @xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for general
2893 information on convenience variables.
2895 @kindex thread apply
2896 @cindex apply command to several threads
2897 @item thread apply [@var{threadno} | all] @var{command}
2898 The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2899 @var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2900 threads that you want affected with the command argument
2901 @var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2902 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2903 could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2904 command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2907 @cindex name a thread
2908 @item thread name [@var{name}]
2909 This command assigns a name to the current thread. If no argument is
2910 given, any existing user-specified name is removed. The thread name
2911 appears in the @samp{info threads} display.
2913 On some systems, such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, @value{GDBN} is able to
2914 determine the name of the thread as given by the OS. On these
2915 systems, a name specified with @samp{thread name} will override the
2916 system-give name, and removing the user-specified name will cause
2917 @value{GDBN} to once again display the system-specified name.
2920 @cindex search for a thread
2921 @item thread find [@var{regexp}]
2922 Search for and display thread ids whose name or @var{systag}
2923 matches the supplied regular expression.
2925 As well as being the complement to the @samp{thread name} command,
2926 this command also allows you to identify a thread by its target
2927 @var{systag}. For instance, on @sc{gnu}/Linux, the target @var{systag}
2931 (@value{GDBN}) thread find 26688
2932 Thread 4 has target id 'Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688)'
2933 (@value{GDBN}) info thread 4
2935 4 Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688) 0x00000031ca6cd372 in select ()
2938 @kindex set print thread-events
2939 @cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2940 @item set print thread-events
2941 @itemx set print thread-events on
2942 @itemx set print thread-events off
2943 The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2944 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2945 started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2946 be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2947 Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2949 @kindex show print thread-events
2950 @item show print thread-events
2951 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2952 have started and exited.
2955 @xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2956 more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2957 programs with multiple threads.
2959 @xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2960 watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2962 @anchor{set libthread-db-search-path}
2964 @kindex set libthread-db-search-path
2965 @cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
2966 @item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
2967 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
2968 directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
2969 If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
2970 its default value (@code{$sdir:$pdir} on @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems).
2971 Internally, the default value comes from the @code{LIBTHREAD_DB_SEARCH_PATH}
2974 On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
2975 @code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
2976 inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2977 to find @code{libthread_db}. @value{GDBN} also consults first if inferior
2978 specific thread debugging library loading is enabled
2979 by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
2981 A special entry @samp{$sdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2982 refers to the default system directories that are
2983 normally searched for loading shared libraries. The @samp{$sdir} entry
2984 is the only kind not needing to be enabled by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db}
2985 (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
2987 A special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2988 refers to the directory from which @code{libpthread}
2989 was loaded in the inferior process.
2991 For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
2992 @value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
2993 If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
2994 mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
2995 will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
2996 If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
2997 @value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
2999 Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
3000 only on some platforms.
3002 @kindex show libthread-db-search-path
3003 @item show libthread-db-search-path
3004 Display current libthread_db search path.
3006 @kindex set debug libthread-db
3007 @kindex show debug libthread-db
3008 @cindex debugging @code{libthread_db}
3009 @item set debug libthread-db
3010 @itemx show debug libthread-db
3011 Turns on or off display of @code{libthread_db}-related events.
3012 Use @code{1} to enable, @code{0} to disable.
3016 @section Debugging Forks
3018 @cindex fork, debugging programs which call
3019 @cindex multiple processes
3020 @cindex processes, multiple
3021 On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
3022 programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
3023 function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
3024 parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
3025 set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
3026 will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
3027 will cause it to terminate.
3029 However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
3030 which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
3031 the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
3032 only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
3033 so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
3034 on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
3035 get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
3036 @value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
3037 the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
3038 the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
3040 On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
3041 create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
3042 Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
3043 only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
3045 By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
3046 the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
3048 If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
3049 use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
3052 @kindex set follow-fork-mode
3053 @item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
3054 Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
3055 @code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
3056 process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
3060 The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
3061 unimpeded. This is the default.
3064 The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
3069 @kindex show follow-fork-mode
3070 @item show follow-fork-mode
3071 Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
3074 @cindex debugging multiple processes
3075 On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
3076 command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
3079 @kindex set detach-on-fork
3080 @item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
3081 Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
3082 retain debugger control over them both.
3086 The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
3087 @code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
3088 independently. This is the default.
3091 Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
3092 One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
3093 @code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
3098 @kindex show detach-on-fork
3099 @item show detach-on-fork
3100 Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
3103 If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
3104 will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
3105 You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
3106 using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
3107 to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
3108 Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
3110 To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
3111 from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferiors}} command (allowing it
3112 to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}}
3113 command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
3116 If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
3117 @code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
3118 breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
3119 @code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
3120 the child process's @code{main}.
3122 On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
3123 cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
3125 If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
3126 call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
3127 process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
3128 as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
3129 @value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
3130 You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
3134 @kindex set follow-exec-mode
3135 @item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
3137 Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
3138 @code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
3140 @code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
3144 @value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
3145 new inferior. The program the process was running before the
3146 @code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
3152 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3154 Id Description Executable
3157 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3158 Program exited normally.
3159 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3160 Id Description Executable
3166 @value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3167 executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3168 inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3169 e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3170 running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3175 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3176 Id Description Executable
3179 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3180 Program exited normally.
3181 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3182 Id Description Executable
3189 You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3190 a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3191 Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3193 @node Checkpoint/Restart
3194 @section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3199 @cindex snapshot of a process
3200 @cindex rewind program state
3202 On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3203 @sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3204 program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3207 Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3208 happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3209 includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3210 system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3211 moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3213 Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3214 getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3215 a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3216 the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3217 from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3218 start again from there.
3220 This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3221 steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3223 To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3228 Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3229 The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3230 is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3232 @kindex info checkpoints
3233 @item info checkpoints
3234 List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3235 session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3242 @item Source line, or label
3245 @kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3246 @item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3247 Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3248 @var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3249 etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3250 was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3251 in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3253 Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3254 are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3255 only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3258 @kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3259 @item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3260 Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3264 Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3265 of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3266 (OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3267 a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3268 so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3269 opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3270 previously read data can be read again.
3272 Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3273 external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3274 from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3275 but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3276 be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3277 been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3279 However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3280 program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3281 again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3282 different execution path this time.
3284 @cindex checkpoints and process id
3285 Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3286 different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3287 id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3288 and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3289 If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3290 potentially pose a problem.
3292 @subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3294 On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3295 is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3296 difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3297 absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3298 absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3301 A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3302 Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3303 and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3304 process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3305 your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3308 @chapter Stopping and Continuing
3310 The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3311 program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3312 trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3314 Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3315 such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3316 @value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3317 change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3318 continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3319 ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3320 explicitly request this information at any time.
3323 @kindex info program
3325 Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3326 running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3330 * Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3331 * Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3332 * Skipping Over Functions and Files::
3333 Skipping over functions and files
3335 * Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3339 @section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3342 A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3343 the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3344 control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3345 breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3346 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3347 should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3350 On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3351 the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
3352 you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
3353 in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
3354 (for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
3358 @cindex data breakpoints
3359 @cindex memory tracing
3360 @cindex breakpoint on memory address
3361 @cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3362 A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3363 when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3364 of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3365 combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3366 @dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3367 watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3368 from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3369 enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3372 You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3373 whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3377 @cindex breakpoint on events
3378 A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3379 when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3380 exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3381 different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3382 Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3383 other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3384 @code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3386 @cindex breakpoint numbers
3387 @cindex numbers for breakpoints
3388 @value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3389 catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3390 starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3391 features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3392 breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3393 @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3396 @cindex breakpoint ranges
3397 @cindex ranges of breakpoints
3398 Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3399 operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3400 @samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3401 hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3402 all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3405 * Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3406 * Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3407 * Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3408 * Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3409 * Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3410 * Conditions:: Break conditions
3411 * Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3412 * Dynamic Printf:: Dynamic printf
3413 * Save Breakpoints:: How to save breakpoints in a file
3414 * Static Probe Points:: Listing static probe points
3415 * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3416 * Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3420 @subsection Setting Breakpoints
3422 @c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3423 @c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3425 @c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3428 @kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3429 @vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3430 @cindex latest breakpoint
3431 Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3432 @code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3433 number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3434 Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3435 convenience variables.
3438 @item break @var{location}
3439 Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3440 function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3441 (@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3442 specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3443 before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3445 When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3446 C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3447 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3450 It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3451 only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3452 or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3455 When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3456 the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3457 (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3458 innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3459 returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3460 @code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3461 that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3462 @code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3463 the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3466 @value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3467 least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3468 would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3469 breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3470 existed when your program stopped.
3472 @item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3473 Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3474 @var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3475 value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3476 @samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3477 above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3478 ,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3481 @item tbreak @var{args}
3482 Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3483 same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3484 way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3485 program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3488 @cindex hardware breakpoints
3489 @item hbreak @var{args}
3490 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3491 @code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3492 breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3493 have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3494 debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3495 changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3496 provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3497 will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3498 address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3499 breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3500 example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3501 @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3502 or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3503 (@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3504 @xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3505 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3506 breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3507 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3510 @item thbreak @var{args}
3511 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3512 are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3513 the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3514 the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3515 first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3516 command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3517 may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3518 See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3521 @cindex regular expression
3522 @cindex breakpoints at functions matching a regexp
3523 @cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3524 @item rbreak @var{regex}
3525 Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3526 @var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3527 matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3528 breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3529 the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3530 them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3532 The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3533 like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3534 shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3535 an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3536 @code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3537 match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3539 @cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3540 When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3541 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3544 @cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3545 The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3546 @strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3549 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3552 @item rbreak @var{file}:@var{regex}
3553 If @code{rbreak} is called with a filename qualification, it limits
3554 the search for functions matching the given regular expression to the
3555 specified @var{file}. This can be used, for example, to set breakpoints on
3556 every function in a given file:
3559 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak file.c:.
3562 The colon separating the filename qualifier from the regex may
3563 optionally be surrounded by spaces.
3565 @kindex info breakpoints
3566 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3567 @item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3568 @itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3569 Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3570 not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3571 about the specified breakpoint(s) (or watchpoint(s) or catchpoint(s)).
3572 For each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3575 @item Breakpoint Numbers
3577 Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3579 Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3580 @item Enabled or Disabled
3581 Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3582 that are not enabled.
3584 Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3585 pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3586 contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3587 library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3588 See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3589 have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3591 Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3592 line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3593 the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3594 the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3598 If a breakpoint is conditional, there are two evaluation modes: ``host'' and
3599 ``target''. If mode is ``host'', breakpoint condition evaluation is done by
3600 @value{GDBN} on the host's side. If it is ``target'', then the condition
3601 is evaluated by the target. The @code{info break} command shows
3602 the condition on the line following the affected breakpoint, together with
3603 its condition evaluation mode in between parentheses.
3605 Breakpoint commands, if any, are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is
3606 allowed to have a condition specified for it. The condition is not parsed for
3607 validity until a shared library is loaded that allows the pending
3608 breakpoint to resolve to a valid location.
3611 @code{info break} with a breakpoint
3612 number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3613 convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3614 the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3615 listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3618 @code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3619 has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3620 @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3621 hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3622 was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3623 will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3626 For a breakpoints with an enable count (xref) greater than 1,
3627 @code{info break} also displays that count.
3631 @value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3632 your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3633 the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3634 (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3636 @cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3637 @cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3638 It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3639 in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3643 Multiple functions in the program may have the same name.
3646 For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3647 instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3650 For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3651 correspond to any number of instantiations.
3654 For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3655 several places where that function is inlined.
3658 In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3659 the relevant locations.
3661 A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3662 table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3663 each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3664 address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3665 addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3666 locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3667 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3672 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
3673 1 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3675 breakpoint already hit 1 time
3676 1.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
3677 1.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3680 Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3681 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3682 @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3683 delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3684 entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3685 the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3686 the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3687 the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3688 that belong to that breakpoint.
3690 @cindex pending breakpoints
3691 It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3692 Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3693 and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3694 this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3695 any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3696 set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3697 debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3698 symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3699 breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3700 a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3701 is not yet resolved.
3703 After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3704 @value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3705 shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3706 pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3707 ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3708 that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3710 This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3711 example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3712 a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3713 a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3715 Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3716 differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3717 enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3719 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3720 happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3721 address specification to an address:
3723 @kindex set breakpoint pending
3724 @kindex show breakpoint pending
3726 @item set breakpoint pending auto
3727 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3728 location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3730 @item set breakpoint pending on
3731 This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3732 result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3734 @item set breakpoint pending off
3735 This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3736 unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3737 not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3739 @item show breakpoint pending
3740 Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3743 The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3744 variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3745 as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3747 @cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3748 For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3749 software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3750 breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3751 breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3752 breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3753 breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3756 You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3758 @kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3759 @kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3761 @item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3762 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3763 will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3764 breakpoint must be used.
3766 @item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3767 This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3768 type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3769 trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3772 @value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3773 at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3774 executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3775 code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3776 the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3777 behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3778 target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3779 targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3780 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3782 @kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3783 @kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3785 @item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3786 All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3787 the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3788 removed from the target when it stops.
3790 @item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3791 Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3792 the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3793 breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3794 removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3796 @cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3797 @item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3798 This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3799 in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3800 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3801 controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3802 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3805 @value{GDBN} handles conditional breakpoints by evaluating these conditions
3806 when a breakpoint breaks. If the condition is true, then the process being
3807 debugged stops, otherwise the process is resumed.
3809 If the target supports evaluating conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} may
3810 download the breakpoint, together with its conditions, to it.
3812 This feature can be controlled via the following commands:
3814 @kindex set breakpoint condition-evaluation
3815 @kindex show breakpoint condition-evaluation
3817 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation host
3818 This option commands @value{GDBN} to evaluate the breakpoint
3819 conditions on the host's side. Unconditional breakpoints are sent to
3820 the target which in turn receives the triggers and reports them back to GDB
3821 for condition evaluation. This is the standard evaluation mode.
3823 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation target
3824 This option commands @value{GDBN} to download breakpoint conditions
3825 to the target at the moment of their insertion. The target
3826 is responsible for evaluating the conditional expression and reporting
3827 breakpoint stop events back to @value{GDBN} whenever the condition
3828 is true. Due to limitations of target-side evaluation, some conditions
3829 cannot be evaluated there, e.g., conditions that depend on local data
3830 that is only known to the host. Examples include
3831 conditional expressions involving convenience variables, complex types
3832 that cannot be handled by the agent expression parser and expressions
3833 that are too long to be sent over to the target, specially when the
3834 target is a remote system. In these cases, the conditions will be
3835 evaluated by @value{GDBN}.
3837 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation auto
3838 This is the default mode. If the target supports evaluating breakpoint
3839 conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} will download breakpoint conditions to
3840 the target (limitations mentioned previously apply). If the target does
3841 not support breakpoint condition evaluation, then @value{GDBN} will fallback
3842 to evaluating all these conditions on the host's side.
3846 @cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3847 @cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3848 @value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3849 special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3850 programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3851 starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3852 You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3853 @samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3856 @node Set Watchpoints
3857 @subsection Setting Watchpoints
3859 @cindex setting watchpoints
3860 You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3861 expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3862 this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3863 The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3864 as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3868 A reference to the value of a single variable.
3871 An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3872 @samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3873 address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3876 An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3877 expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3878 language (@pxref{Languages}).
3881 You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3882 not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3883 @samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3884 @value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3885 the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3886 valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3887 pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3888 @code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3889 the expression changes.
3891 @cindex software watchpoints
3892 @cindex hardware watchpoints
3893 Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3894 hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3895 program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3896 times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3897 catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3900 On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3901 x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3902 watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3906 @item watch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3907 Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3908 expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3909 changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3910 to watch the value of a single variable:
3913 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3916 If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3917 argument, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3918 @var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3919 change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3920 that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3921 with Hardware Watchpoints.
3923 Ordinarily a watchpoint respects the scope of variables in @var{expr}
3924 (see below). The @code{-location} argument tells @value{GDBN} to
3925 instead watch the memory referred to by @var{expr}. In this case,
3926 @value{GDBN} will evaluate @var{expr}, take the address of the result,
3927 and watch the memory at that address. The type of the result is used
3928 to determine the size of the watched memory. If the expression's
3929 result does not have an address, then @value{GDBN} will print an
3932 The @code{@r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}} argument allows creation
3933 of masked watchpoints, if the current architecture supports this
3934 feature (e.g., PowerPC Embedded architecture, see @ref{PowerPC
3935 Embedded}.) A @dfn{masked watchpoint} specifies a mask in addition
3936 to an address to watch. The mask specifies that some bits of an address
3937 (the bits which are reset in the mask) should be ignored when matching
3938 the address accessed by the inferior against the watchpoint address.
3939 Thus, a masked watchpoint watches many addresses simultaneously---those
3940 addresses whose unmasked bits are identical to the unmasked bits in the
3941 watchpoint address. The @code{mask} argument implies @code{-location}.
3945 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo mask 0xffff00ff
3946 (@value{GDBP}) watch *0xdeadbeef mask 0xffffff00
3950 @item rwatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3951 Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3955 @item awatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3956 Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3957 or written into by the program.
3959 @kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3960 @item info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3961 This command prints a list of watchpoints, using the same format as
3962 @code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3965 If you watch for a change in a numerically entered address you need to
3966 dereference it, as the address itself is just a constant number which will
3967 never change. @value{GDBN} refuses to create a watchpoint that watches
3968 a never-changing value:
3971 (@value{GDBP}) watch 0x600850
3972 Cannot watch constant value 0x600850.
3973 (@value{GDBP}) watch *(int *) 0x600850
3974 Watchpoint 1: *(int *) 6293584
3977 @value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3978 watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3979 value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3980 cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3981 executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3982 @emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3984 @cindex use only software watchpoints
3985 You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3986 @kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3987 zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3988 the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3989 watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3990 @code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3991 mechanism of watching expression values.)
3994 @item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3995 @kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3996 Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
3998 @item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3999 @kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
4000 Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
4003 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
4004 watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
4005 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
4007 When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
4010 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
4014 if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
4016 Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
4017 hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
4018 value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
4019 every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
4020 that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
4021 hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
4022 will print a message like this:
4025 Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
4028 Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
4029 data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
4030 watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
4031 can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
4032 cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
4033 double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
4034 wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
4035 into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
4037 If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
4038 to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
4039 Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
4040 time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
4041 able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
4042 warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
4045 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
4049 If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
4051 Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
4052 exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
4053 That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
4054 expression with separately allocated resources.
4056 If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
4057 any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
4058 kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
4060 @value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
4061 (automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
4062 they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
4063 which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
4064 being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
4065 and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
4066 rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
4067 way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
4068 @code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
4070 @cindex watchpoints and threads
4071 @cindex threads and watchpoints
4072 In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
4073 watched expression from every thread.
4076 @emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
4077 have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
4078 watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
4079 single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
4080 change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
4081 confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
4082 software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
4083 when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
4084 watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
4087 @xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
4089 @node Set Catchpoints
4090 @subsection Setting Catchpoints
4091 @cindex catchpoints, setting
4092 @cindex exception handlers
4093 @cindex event handling
4095 You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
4096 kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
4097 shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
4101 @item catch @var{event}
4102 Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
4105 @item throw @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4106 @itemx rethrow @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4107 @itemx catch @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4108 @cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
4109 The throwing, re-throwing, or catching of a C@t{++} exception.
4111 If @var{regexp} is given, then only exceptions whose type matches the
4112 regular expression will be caught.
4114 @vindex $_exception@r{, convenience variable}
4115 The convenience variable @code{$_exception} is available at an
4116 exception-related catchpoint, on some systems. This holds the
4117 exception being thrown.
4119 There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling in
4124 The support for these commands is system-dependent. Currently, only
4125 systems using the @samp{gnu-v3} C@t{++} ABI (@pxref{ABI}) are
4129 The regular expression feature and the @code{$_exception} convenience
4130 variable rely on the presence of some SDT probes in @code{libstdc++}.
4131 If these probes are not present, then these features cannot be used.
4132 These probes were first available in the GCC 4.8 release, but whether
4133 or not they are available in your GCC also depends on how it was
4137 The @code{$_exception} convenience variable is only valid at the
4138 instruction at which an exception-related catchpoint is set.
4141 When an exception-related catchpoint is hit, @value{GDBN} stops at a
4142 location in the system library which implements runtime exception
4143 support for C@t{++}, usually @code{libstdc++}. You can use @code{up}
4144 (@pxref{Selection}) to get to your code.
4147 If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4148 control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4149 raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4150 returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4151 simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4152 that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4153 you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4154 disabled within interactive calls. @xref{Calling}, for information on
4155 controlling this with @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception}.
4158 You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4161 You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4165 @cindex Ada exception catching
4166 @cindex catch Ada exceptions
4167 An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
4168 at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
4169 the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
4170 Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
4172 When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
4173 name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
4174 fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
4175 @value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
4176 rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
4177 called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
4178 the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
4179 Pck.Constraint_Error}.
4181 @item exception unhandled
4182 An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
4185 A failed Ada assertion.
4188 @cindex break on fork/exec
4189 A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4193 @itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @dots{}
4194 @cindex break on a system call.
4195 A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
4196 syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
4197 from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
4198 @value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
4199 debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
4200 argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
4203 @var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
4204 underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
4205 GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
4206 names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
4208 @c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
4209 @c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
4210 @c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
4211 @c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
4213 Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
4214 each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
4215 facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
4218 You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
4219 number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
4220 identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
4221 name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
4222 into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
4223 may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
4224 list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
4225 behind the OS upgrades).
4227 The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
4231 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4232 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4234 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4236 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
4237 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4241 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
4242 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4246 Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
4249 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
4250 Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
4252 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4254 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
4255 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4259 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
4260 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4264 An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
4265 below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
4266 file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
4269 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4270 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
4272 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4274 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
4275 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4279 Program exited normally.
4283 However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
4284 in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
4285 a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
4286 but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
4289 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
4290 warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
4291 Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
4295 If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
4296 it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
4297 architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
4298 you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
4299 notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
4300 name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
4303 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4304 warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
4305 warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
4306 GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
4307 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4311 Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
4313 Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
4314 number. In this case, you would see something like:
4317 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4318 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
4321 Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4324 A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4328 A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4331 @item load @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4332 @itemx unload @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4333 The loading or unloading of a shared library. If @var{regexp} is
4334 given, then the catchpoint will stop only if the regular expression
4335 matches one of the affected libraries.
4337 @item signal @r{[}@var{signal}@dots{} @r{|} @samp{all}@r{]}
4338 The delivery of a signal.
4340 With no arguments, this catchpoint will catch any signal that is not
4341 used internally by @value{GDBN}, specifically, all signals except
4342 @samp{SIGTRAP} and @samp{SIGINT}.
4344 With the argument @samp{all}, all signals, including those used by
4345 @value{GDBN}, will be caught. This argument cannot be used with other
4348 Otherwise, the arguments are a list of signal names as given to
4349 @code{handle} (@pxref{Signals}). Only signals specified in this list
4352 One reason that @code{catch signal} can be more useful than
4353 @code{handle} is that you can attach commands and conditions to the
4356 When a signal is caught by a catchpoint, the signal's @code{stop} and
4357 @code{print} settings, as specified by @code{handle}, are ignored.
4358 However, whether the signal is still delivered to the inferior depends
4359 on the @code{pass} setting; this can be changed in the catchpoint's
4364 @item tcatch @var{event}
4365 Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4366 automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4370 Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4374 @subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4376 @cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4377 @cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4378 It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4379 catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4380 to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4381 breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4383 With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4384 where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4385 delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4386 their breakpoint numbers.
4388 It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4389 automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4390 when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4395 Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4396 selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4397 the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4398 breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4400 @item clear @var{location}
4401 Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4402 @xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4403 most useful ones are listed below:
4406 @item clear @var{function}
4407 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4408 Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4410 @item clear @var{linenum}
4411 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4412 Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4413 @var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4416 @cindex delete breakpoints
4418 @kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4419 @item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4420 Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4421 ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4422 breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4423 confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4427 @subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4429 @cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4430 Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4431 prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4432 it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4433 that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4435 You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4436 the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying
4437 one or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} to
4438 print a list of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints if you
4439 do not know which numbers to use.
4441 Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4442 affects all of its locations.
4444 A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of several
4445 different states of enablement:
4449 Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4450 with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4452 Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4454 Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4457 Enabled for a count. The breakpoint stops your program for the next
4458 N times, then becomes disabled.
4460 Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4461 immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4462 set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4465 You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4466 watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4470 @kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4471 @item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4472 Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4473 listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4474 options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4475 case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4476 @code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4479 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4480 Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4481 become effective once again in stopping your program.
4483 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4484 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4485 of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4487 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} count @var{count} @var{range}@dots{}
4488 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} records
4489 @var{count} with each of the specified breakpoints, and decrements a
4490 breakpoint's count when it is hit. When any count reaches 0,
4491 @value{GDBN} disables that breakpoint. If a breakpoint has an ignore
4492 count (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}), that will be
4493 decremented to 0 before @var{count} is affected.
4495 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4496 Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4497 deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4498 Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4501 @c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4502 @c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4503 Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4504 ,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4505 subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4506 the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4507 breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4508 breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4512 @subsection Break Conditions
4513 @cindex conditional breakpoints
4514 @cindex breakpoint conditions
4516 @c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4517 @c in particular for a watchpoint?
4518 The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4519 specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4520 breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4521 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4522 a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4523 and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4525 This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4526 situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4527 when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4528 by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4529 @samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4531 Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4532 since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4533 it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4534 and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4537 Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4538 your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4539 that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4540 format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4541 unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4542 that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4543 program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4544 breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4546 purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4547 (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4549 Breakpoint conditions can also be evaluated on the target's side if
4550 the target supports it. Instead of evaluating the conditions locally,
4551 @value{GDBN} encodes the expression into an agent expression
4552 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}) suitable for execution on the target,
4553 independently of @value{GDBN}. Global variables become raw memory
4554 locations, locals become stack accesses, and so forth.
4556 In this case, @value{GDBN} will only be notified of a breakpoint trigger
4557 when its condition evaluates to true. This mechanism may provide faster
4558 response times depending on the performance characteristics of the target
4559 since it does not need to keep @value{GDBN} informed about
4560 every breakpoint trigger, even those with false conditions.
4562 Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4563 @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4564 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4565 with the @code{condition} command.
4567 You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4568 The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4569 @code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4574 @item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4575 Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4576 watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4577 breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4578 @var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4579 @code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4580 syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4581 referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4582 symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4583 prints an error message:
4586 No symbol "foo" in current context.
4591 not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4592 command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4593 @code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4595 @item condition @var{bnum}
4596 Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4597 an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4600 @cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4601 A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4602 breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4603 useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4604 count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4605 is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4606 therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4607 ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4608 the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4609 value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4610 your program reaches it.
4614 @item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4615 Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4616 The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4617 execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4620 To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4623 When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4624 breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4625 @code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4626 Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4628 If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4629 condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4630 @value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4632 You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4633 as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4634 is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4638 Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4641 @node Break Commands
4642 @subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4644 @cindex breakpoint commands
4645 You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4646 commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4647 example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4648 enable other breakpoints.
4652 @kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4653 @item commands @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4654 @itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4656 Specify a list of commands for the given breakpoints. The commands
4657 themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4658 @code{end} to terminate the commands.
4660 To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4661 follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4663 With no argument, @code{commands} refers to the last breakpoint,
4664 watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
4665 encountered). If the most recent breakpoints were set with a single
4666 command, then the @code{commands} will apply to all the breakpoints
4667 set by that command. This applies to breakpoints set by
4668 @code{rbreak}, and also applies when a single @code{break} command
4669 creates multiple breakpoints (@pxref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous
4673 Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4674 disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4676 You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4677 use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4678 that resumes execution.
4680 Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4681 execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4682 (even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4683 another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4684 ambiguities about which list to execute.
4687 If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4688 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4689 be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4690 then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4691 see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4692 meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4694 The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4695 print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4696 breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4698 For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4699 value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4705 printf "x is %d\n",x
4710 One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4711 you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4712 of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4713 erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4714 to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4715 so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4716 command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4727 @node Dynamic Printf
4728 @subsection Dynamic Printf
4730 @cindex dynamic printf
4732 The dynamic printf command @code{dprintf} combines a breakpoint with
4733 formatted printing of your program's data to give you the effect of
4734 inserting @code{printf} calls into your program on-the-fly, without
4735 having to recompile it.
4737 In its most basic form, the output goes to the GDB console. However,
4738 you can set the variable @code{dprintf-style} for alternate handling.
4739 For instance, you can ask to format the output by calling your
4740 program's @code{printf} function. This has the advantage that the
4741 characters go to the program's output device, so they can recorded in
4742 redirects to files and so forth.
4744 If you are doing remote debugging with a stub or agent, you can also
4745 ask to have the printf handled by the remote agent. In addition to
4746 ensuring that the output goes to the remote program's device along
4747 with any other output the program might produce, you can also ask that
4748 the dprintf remain active even after disconnecting from the remote
4749 target. Using the stub/agent is also more efficient, as it can do
4750 everything without needing to communicate with @value{GDBN}.
4754 @item dprintf @var{location},@var{template},@var{expression}[,@var{expression}@dots{}]
4755 Whenever execution reaches @var{location}, print the values of one or
4756 more @var{expressions} under the control of the string @var{template}.
4757 To print several values, separate them with commas.
4759 @item set dprintf-style @var{style}
4760 Set the dprintf output to be handled in one of several different
4761 styles enumerated below. A change of style affects all existing
4762 dynamic printfs immediately. (If you need individual control over the
4763 print commands, simply define normal breakpoints with
4764 explicitly-supplied command lists.)
4767 @kindex dprintf-style gdb
4768 Handle the output using the @value{GDBN} @code{printf} command.
4771 @kindex dprintf-style call
4772 Handle the output by calling a function in your program (normally
4776 @kindex dprintf-style agent
4777 Have the remote debugging agent (such as @code{gdbserver}) handle
4778 the output itself. This style is only available for agents that
4779 support running commands on the target.
4781 @item set dprintf-function @var{function}
4782 Set the function to call if the dprintf style is @code{call}. By
4783 default its value is @code{printf}. You may set it to any expression.
4784 that @value{GDBN} can evaluate to a function, as per the @code{call}
4787 @item set dprintf-channel @var{channel}
4788 Set a ``channel'' for dprintf. If set to a non-empty value,
4789 @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as an expression and pass the result as
4790 a first argument to the @code{dprintf-function}, in the manner of
4791 @code{fprintf} and similar functions. Otherwise, the dprintf format
4792 string will be the first argument, in the manner of @code{printf}.
4794 As an example, if you wanted @code{dprintf} output to go to a logfile
4795 that is a standard I/O stream assigned to the variable @code{mylog},
4796 you could do the following:
4799 (gdb) set dprintf-style call
4800 (gdb) set dprintf-function fprintf
4801 (gdb) set dprintf-channel mylog
4802 (gdb) dprintf 25,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob
4803 Dprintf 1 at 0x123456: file main.c, line 25.
4805 1 dprintf keep y 0x00123456 in main at main.c:25
4806 call (void) fprintf (mylog,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob)
4811 Note that the @code{info break} displays the dynamic printf commands
4812 as normal breakpoint commands; you can thus easily see the effect of
4813 the variable settings.
4815 @item set disconnected-dprintf on
4816 @itemx set disconnected-dprintf off
4817 @kindex set disconnected-dprintf
4818 Choose whether @code{dprintf} commands should continue to run if
4819 @value{GDBN} has disconnected from the target. This only applies
4820 if the @code{dprintf-style} is @code{agent}.
4822 @item show disconnected-dprintf off
4823 @kindex show disconnected-dprintf
4824 Show the current choice for disconnected @code{dprintf}.
4828 @value{GDBN} does not check the validity of function and channel,
4829 relying on you to supply values that are meaningful for the contexts
4830 in which they are being used. For instance, the function and channel
4831 may be the values of local variables, but if that is the case, then
4832 all enabled dynamic prints must be at locations within the scope of
4833 those locals. If evaluation fails, @value{GDBN} will report an error.
4835 @node Save Breakpoints
4836 @subsection How to save breakpoints to a file
4838 To save breakpoint definitions to a file use the @w{@code{save
4839 breakpoints}} command.
4842 @kindex save breakpoints
4843 @cindex save breakpoints to a file for future sessions
4844 @item save breakpoints [@var{filename}]
4845 This command saves all current breakpoint definitions together with
4846 their commands and ignore counts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
4847 suitable for use in a later debugging session. This includes all
4848 types of breakpoints (breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints,
4849 tracepoints). To read the saved breakpoint definitions, use the
4850 @code{source} command (@pxref{Command Files}). Note that watchpoints
4851 with expressions involving local variables may fail to be recreated
4852 because it may not be possible to access the context where the
4853 watchpoint is valid anymore. Because the saved breakpoint definitions
4854 are simply a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands that recreate the
4855 breakpoints, you can edit the file in your favorite editing program,
4856 and remove the breakpoint definitions you're not interested in, or
4857 that can no longer be recreated.
4860 @node Static Probe Points
4861 @subsection Static Probe Points
4863 @cindex static probe point, SystemTap
4864 @value{GDBN} supports @dfn{SDT} probes in the code. @acronym{SDT} stands
4865 for Statically Defined Tracing, and the probes are designed to have a tiny
4866 runtime code and data footprint, and no dynamic relocations. They are
4867 usable from assembly, C and C@t{++} languages. See
4868 @uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/UserSpaceProbeImplementation}
4869 for a good reference on how the @acronym{SDT} probes are implemented.
4871 Currently, @code{SystemTap} (@uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/})
4872 @acronym{SDT} probes are supported on ELF-compatible systems. See
4873 @uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/AddingUserSpaceProbingToApps}
4874 for more information on how to add @code{SystemTap} @acronym{SDT} probes
4875 in your applications.
4877 @cindex semaphores on static probe points
4878 Some probes have an associated semaphore variable; for instance, this
4879 happens automatically if you defined your probe using a DTrace-style
4880 @file{.d} file. If your probe has a semaphore, @value{GDBN} will
4881 automatically enable it when you specify a breakpoint using the
4882 @samp{-probe-stap} notation. But, if you put a breakpoint at a probe's
4883 location by some other method (e.g., @code{break file:line}), then
4884 @value{GDBN} will not automatically set the semaphore.
4886 You can examine the available static static probes using @code{info
4887 probes}, with optional arguments:
4891 @item info probes stap @r{[}@var{provider} @r{[}@var{name} @r{[}@var{objfile}@r{]}@r{]}@r{]}
4892 If given, @var{provider} is a regular expression used to match against provider
4893 names when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probes by all
4894 probes from all providers are listed.
4896 If given, @var{name} is a regular expression to match against probe names
4897 when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probe names are not
4898 considered when deciding whether to display them.
4900 If given, @var{objfile} is a regular expression used to select which
4901 object files (executable or shared libraries) to examine. If not
4902 given, all object files are considered.
4904 @item info probes all
4905 List the available static probes, from all types.
4908 @vindex $_probe_arg@r{, convenience variable}
4909 A probe may specify up to twelve arguments. These are available at the
4910 point at which the probe is defined---that is, when the current PC is
4911 at the probe's location. The arguments are available using the
4912 convenience variables (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
4913 @code{$_probe_arg0}@dots{}@code{$_probe_arg11}. Each probe argument is
4914 an integer of the appropriate size; types are not preserved. The
4915 convenience variable @code{$_probe_argc} holds the number of arguments
4916 at the current probe point.
4918 These variables are always available, but attempts to access them at
4919 any location other than a probe point will cause @value{GDBN} to give
4923 @c @ifclear BARETARGET
4924 @node Error in Breakpoints
4925 @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4927 If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
4928 watchpoints, you will see this error message:
4930 @c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4931 @c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4933 Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4934 You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4938 This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4939 only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4940 watchpoints it needs to insert.
4942 When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4943 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4945 @node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4946 @subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4947 @cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4949 Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4950 which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4951 @value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4952 with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4954 One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4955 a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4956 bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4957 constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4958 bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4959 honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4960 first in the bundle.
4962 It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4963 instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4964 a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4965 another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4966 breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4967 printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4970 A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4971 that's been subject to address adjustment:
4974 warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
4977 Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
4978 internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
4979 verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
4980 desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
4981 other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
4982 E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
4983 instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
4984 cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
4986 @value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
4987 adjusted breakpoints:
4990 warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
4994 When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
4995 action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
4996 frequently than expected.
4998 @node Continuing and Stepping
4999 @section Continuing and Stepping
5003 @cindex resuming execution
5004 @dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
5005 completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
5006 one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
5007 line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
5008 particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
5009 your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
5010 it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
5011 @samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
5015 @kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
5016 @kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
5017 @item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5018 @itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5019 @itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5020 Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
5021 any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
5022 @var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
5023 ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
5024 @code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
5026 The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
5027 stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
5028 @code{continue} is ignored.
5030 The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
5031 debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
5032 purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
5036 To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
5037 (@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
5038 calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
5039 Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
5041 A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
5042 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
5043 beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
5044 is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
5045 and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
5046 interesting, until you see the problem happen.
5050 @kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
5052 Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
5053 line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
5054 abbreviated @code{s}.
5057 @c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
5058 @c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
5059 @c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
5060 @c distinction here.
5061 @emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
5062 within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
5063 execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
5064 debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
5065 is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
5066 without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
5070 The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
5071 line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
5072 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
5073 to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
5074 the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
5075 called within the line.
5077 Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
5078 number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
5079 @code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
5080 on @acronym{MIPS} machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
5081 was any debugging information about the routine.
5083 @item step @var{count}
5084 Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
5085 breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
5086 @var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
5089 @kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
5090 @item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5091 Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
5092 This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
5093 the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
5094 control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
5095 that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
5096 is abbreviated @code{n}.
5098 An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
5101 @c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
5102 @c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
5104 @c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
5105 @c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
5106 @c function are executed without stopping.
5108 The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
5109 source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
5110 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
5112 @kindex set step-mode
5114 @cindex functions without line info, and stepping
5115 @cindex stepping into functions with no line info
5116 @itemx set step-mode on
5117 The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
5118 stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
5119 information rather than stepping over it.
5121 This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
5122 machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
5123 want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
5125 @item set step-mode off
5126 Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
5127 debug information. This is the default.
5129 @item show step-mode
5130 Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
5131 source line debug information.
5134 @kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
5136 Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
5137 returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
5138 abbreviated as @code{fin}.
5140 Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
5141 ,Returning from a Function}).
5144 @kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
5145 @cindex run until specified location
5148 Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
5149 current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
5150 stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
5151 command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
5152 automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
5153 than the address of the jump.
5155 This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
5156 though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
5157 exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
5158 simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
5159 through the next iteration.
5161 @code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
5164 @code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
5165 of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
5166 example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
5167 (@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
5168 @code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
5172 #0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
5174 (@value{GDBP}) until
5175 195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
5178 This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
5179 generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
5180 start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
5181 written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
5182 to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
5183 expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
5184 statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
5186 @code{until} with no argument works by means of single
5187 instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
5190 @item until @var{location}
5191 @itemx u @var{location}
5192 Continue running your program until either the specified location is
5193 reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
5194 the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
5195 This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
5196 hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
5197 location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
5198 implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
5199 invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
5200 line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
5201 line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
5202 invocations have returned.
5205 94 int factorial (int value)
5207 96 if (value > 1) @{
5208 97 value *= factorial (value - 1);
5215 @kindex advance @var{location}
5216 @item advance @var{location}
5217 Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
5218 required, which should be of one of the forms described in
5219 @ref{Specify Location}.
5220 Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
5221 frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
5222 not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
5223 have to be in the same frame as the current one.
5227 @kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
5229 @itemx stepi @var{arg}
5231 Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
5233 It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
5234 instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
5235 instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
5236 Display,, Automatic Display}.
5238 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
5242 @kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
5244 @itemx nexti @var{arg}
5246 Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
5247 proceed until the function returns.
5249 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
5253 @anchor{range stepping}
5254 @cindex range stepping
5255 @cindex target-assisted range stepping
5256 By default, and if available, @value{GDBN} makes use of
5257 target-assisted @dfn{range stepping}. In other words, whenever you
5258 use a stepping command (e.g., @code{step}, @code{next}), @value{GDBN}
5259 tells the target to step the corresponding range of instruction
5260 addresses instead of issuing multiple single-steps. This speeds up
5261 line stepping, particularly for remote targets. Ideally, there should
5262 be no reason you would want to turn range stepping off. However, it's
5263 possible that a bug in the debug info, a bug in the remote stub (for
5264 remote targets), or even a bug in @value{GDBN} could make line
5265 stepping behave incorrectly when target-assisted range stepping is
5266 enabled. You can use the following command to turn off range stepping
5270 @kindex set range-stepping
5271 @kindex show range-stepping
5272 @item set range-stepping
5273 @itemx show range-stepping
5274 Control whether range stepping is enabled.
5276 If @code{on}, and the target supports it, @value{GDBN} tells the
5277 target to step a range of addresses itself, instead of issuing
5278 multiple single-steps. If @code{off}, @value{GDBN} always issues
5279 single-steps, even if range stepping is supported by the target. The
5280 default is @code{on}.
5284 @node Skipping Over Functions and Files
5285 @section Skipping Over Functions and Files
5286 @cindex skipping over functions and files
5288 The program you are debugging may contain some functions which are
5289 uninteresting to debug. The @code{skip} comand lets you tell @value{GDBN} to
5290 skip a function or all functions in a file when stepping.
5292 For example, consider the following C function:
5303 Suppose you wish to step into the functions @code{foo} and @code{bar}, but you
5304 are not interested in stepping through @code{boring}. If you run @code{step}
5305 at line 103, you'll enter @code{boring()}, but if you run @code{next}, you'll
5306 step over both @code{foo} and @code{boring}!
5308 One solution is to @code{step} into @code{boring} and use the @code{finish}
5309 command to immediately exit it. But this can become tedious if @code{boring}
5310 is called from many places.
5312 A more flexible solution is to execute @kbd{skip boring}. This instructs
5313 @value{GDBN} never to step into @code{boring}. Now when you execute
5314 @code{step} at line 103, you'll step over @code{boring} and directly into
5317 You can also instruct @value{GDBN} to skip all functions in a file, with, for
5318 example, @code{skip file boring.c}.
5321 @kindex skip function
5322 @item skip @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5323 @itemx skip function @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5324 After running this command, the function named by @var{linespec} or the
5325 function containing the line named by @var{linespec} will be skipped over when
5326 stepping. @xref{Specify Location}.
5328 If you do not specify @var{linespec}, the function you're currently debugging
5331 (If you have a function called @code{file} that you want to skip, use
5332 @kbd{skip function file}.)
5335 @item skip file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
5336 After running this command, any function whose source lives in @var{filename}
5337 will be skipped over when stepping.
5339 If you do not specify @var{filename}, functions whose source lives in the file
5340 you're currently debugging will be skipped.
5343 Skips can be listed, deleted, disabled, and enabled, much like breakpoints.
5344 These are the commands for managing your list of skips:
5348 @item info skip @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5349 Print details about the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified,
5350 print a table with details about all functions and files marked for skipping.
5351 @code{info skip} prints the following information about each skip:
5355 A number identifying this skip.
5357 The type of this skip, either @samp{function} or @samp{file}.
5358 @item Enabled or Disabled
5359 Enabled skips are marked with @samp{y}. Disabled skips are marked with @samp{n}.
5361 For function skips, this column indicates the address in memory of the function
5362 being skipped. If you've set a function skip on a function which has not yet
5363 been loaded, this field will contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Once a shared library
5364 which has the function is loaded, @code{info skip} will show the function's
5367 For file skips, this field contains the filename being skipped. For functions
5368 skips, this field contains the function name and its line number in the file
5369 where it is defined.
5373 @item skip delete @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5374 Delete the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, delete all
5378 @item skip enable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5379 Enable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, enable all
5382 @kindex skip disable
5383 @item skip disable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5384 Disable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, disable all
5393 A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
5394 operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
5395 kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
5396 signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
5397 @code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
5398 memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
5399 the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
5400 requested an alarm).
5402 @cindex fatal signals
5403 Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
5404 functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
5405 errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
5406 program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
5407 @code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
5408 fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
5410 @value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
5411 program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
5414 @cindex handling signals
5415 Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
5416 @code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
5417 (so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
5418 but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
5419 You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
5422 @kindex info signals
5426 Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
5427 handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
5428 the defined types of signals.
5430 @item info signals @var{sig}
5431 Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
5433 @code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
5435 @item catch signal @r{[}@var{signal}@dots{} @r{|} @samp{all}@r{]}
5436 Set a catchpoint for the indicated signals. @xref{Set Catchpoints},
5437 for details about this command.
5440 @item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
5441 Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
5442 can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
5443 @samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
5444 @samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
5445 known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
5446 say what change to make.
5450 The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
5451 Their full names are:
5455 @value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
5456 still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
5459 @value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
5460 the @code{print} keyword as well.
5463 @value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
5466 @value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
5467 implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
5471 @value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
5472 can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
5473 and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
5477 @value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
5478 @code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
5482 When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
5484 continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
5485 effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
5486 after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
5487 command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
5488 program sees that signal when you continue.
5490 The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
5491 non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
5492 @code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
5495 You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
5496 seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
5497 or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
5498 due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
5499 values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
5500 execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
5501 a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
5502 you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
5505 @cindex extra signal information
5506 @anchor{extra signal information}
5508 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
5509 associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
5510 delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
5511 by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
5512 that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
5513 receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
5514 target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
5515 $_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
5516 standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
5519 Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
5520 referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
5524 (@value{GDBP}) continue
5525 Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
5526 0x0000000000400766 in main ()
5528 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
5535 struct @{...@} _kill;
5536 struct @{...@} _timer;
5538 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
5539 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
5540 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
5543 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
5547 (@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
5548 $1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
5552 Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
5555 @section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
5557 @cindex stopped threads
5558 @cindex threads, stopped
5560 @cindex continuing threads
5561 @cindex threads, continuing
5563 @value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
5564 (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
5565 are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
5566 debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
5567 when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
5568 or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
5569 @value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
5570 @dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
5571 you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
5574 * All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
5575 * Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
5576 * Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
5577 * Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
5578 * Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
5579 * Observer Mode:: GDB does not alter program behavior
5583 @subsection All-Stop Mode
5585 @cindex all-stop mode
5587 In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
5588 @emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
5589 allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
5590 switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
5593 Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
5594 executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
5595 like @code{step} or @code{next}.
5597 In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
5598 Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
5599 system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
5600 execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
5601 single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
5602 statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
5605 You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
5606 continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
5607 thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
5608 first thread completes whatever you requested.
5610 @cindex automatic thread selection
5611 @cindex switching threads automatically
5612 @cindex threads, automatic switching
5613 Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
5614 signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
5615 signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
5616 message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
5619 On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
5620 locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
5623 @item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
5624 @cindex scheduler locking mode
5625 @cindex lock scheduler
5626 Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
5627 locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
5628 current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
5629 mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
5630 from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
5631 the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
5632 Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
5633 when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
5634 function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
5635 like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
5636 thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
5637 the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
5639 @item show scheduler-locking
5640 Display the current scheduler locking mode.
5643 @cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
5644 By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
5645 @code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
5646 threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
5647 is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
5648 @code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
5649 inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
5650 forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
5651 it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
5652 situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
5653 of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
5654 to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
5655 you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
5656 inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
5659 @kindex set schedule-multiple
5660 @item set schedule-multiple
5661 Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
5662 when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
5663 all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
5664 of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
5665 @code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
5666 or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
5668 @item show schedule-multiple
5669 Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
5674 @subsection Non-Stop Mode
5676 @cindex non-stop mode
5678 @c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
5679 @c with more details.
5681 For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
5682 mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
5683 the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
5684 minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
5685 where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
5686 respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
5688 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
5689 @emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
5690 threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
5691 execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
5692 only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
5693 in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
5694 ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
5695 one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
5696 one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
5697 independently and simultaneously.
5699 To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
5700 or attach to your program:
5703 # Enable the async interface.
5706 # If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
5709 # Finally, turn it on!
5713 You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
5716 @kindex set non-stop
5717 @item set non-stop on
5718 Enable selection of non-stop mode.
5719 @item set non-stop off
5720 Disable selection of non-stop mode.
5721 @kindex show non-stop
5723 Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
5726 Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
5727 not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
5728 In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
5729 @value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
5730 not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
5731 since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
5732 non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
5735 In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
5736 by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
5737 To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
5739 You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
5740 (@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
5741 while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
5742 The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
5743 always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
5745 Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
5746 running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
5747 In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
5748 but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
5749 To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
5751 Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
5753 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
5754 that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
5755 thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
5756 command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
5757 changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
5758 previously current thread.
5760 @node Background Execution
5761 @subsection Background Execution
5763 @cindex foreground execution
5764 @cindex background execution
5765 @cindex asynchronous execution
5766 @cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
5768 @value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
5769 foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
5770 (asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
5771 the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
5772 another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
5773 a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
5775 You need to explicitly enable asynchronous mode before you can use
5776 background execution commands. You can use these commands to
5777 manipulate the asynchronous mode setting:
5780 @kindex set target-async
5781 @item set target-async on
5782 Enable asynchronous mode.
5783 @item set target-async off
5784 Disable asynchronous mode.
5785 @kindex show target-async
5786 @item show target-async
5787 Show the current target-async setting.
5790 If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
5791 message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
5793 To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
5794 the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
5795 just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
5801 @xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
5805 @xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
5809 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
5813 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
5817 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
5821 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
5825 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
5829 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
5833 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
5837 Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
5838 mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
5839 However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
5840 the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
5841 previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
5842 mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
5844 You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
5845 using the @code{interrupt} command.
5852 Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
5853 @code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
5854 only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
5855 use @code{interrupt -a}.
5858 @node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5859 @subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5861 When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
5862 Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
5863 breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
5866 @cindex breakpoints and threads
5867 @cindex thread breakpoints
5868 @kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
5869 @item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
5870 @itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
5871 @var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
5872 writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
5873 specify some source line.
5875 Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
5876 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
5877 particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
5878 numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
5879 column of the @samp{info threads} display.
5881 If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
5882 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
5885 You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
5886 well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before or
5887 after the breakpoint condition, like this:
5890 (@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
5895 Thread-specific breakpoints are automatically deleted when
5896 @value{GDBN} detects the corresponding thread is no longer in the
5897 thread list. For example:
5901 Thread-specific breakpoint 3 deleted - thread 28 no longer in the thread list.
5904 There are several ways for a thread to disappear, such as a regular
5905 thread exit, but also when you detach from the process with the
5906 @code{detach} command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running
5907 Process}), or if @value{GDBN} loses the remote connection
5908 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), etc. Note that with some targets,
5909 @value{GDBN} is only able to detect a thread has exited when the user
5910 explictly asks for the thread list with the @code{info threads}
5913 @node Interrupted System Calls
5914 @subsection Interrupted System Calls
5916 @cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
5917 @cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
5918 @cindex premature return from system calls
5919 There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
5920 multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
5921 breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
5922 system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
5923 consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
5924 that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
5927 To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
5928 each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
5931 For example, do not write code like this:
5937 The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
5938 at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
5940 Instead, write this:
5945 unslept = sleep (unslept);
5948 A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
5949 conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
5950 multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
5953 Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
5954 monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
5955 When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
5956 prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
5959 @subsection Observer Mode
5961 If you want to build on non-stop mode and observe program behavior
5962 without any chance of disruption by @value{GDBN}, you can set
5963 variables to disable all of the debugger's attempts to modify state,
5964 whether by writing memory, inserting breakpoints, etc. These operate
5965 at a low level, intercepting operations from all commands.
5967 When all of these are set to @code{off}, then @value{GDBN} is said to
5968 be @dfn{observer mode}. As a convenience, the variable
5969 @code{observer} can be set to disable these, plus enable non-stop
5972 Note that @value{GDBN} will not prevent you from making nonsensical
5973 combinations of these settings. For instance, if you have enabled
5974 @code{may-insert-breakpoints} but disabled @code{may-write-memory},
5975 then breakpoints that work by writing trap instructions into the code
5976 stream will still not be able to be placed.
5981 @item set observer on
5982 @itemx set observer off
5983 When set to @code{on}, this disables all the permission variables
5984 below (except for @code{insert-fast-tracepoints}), plus enables
5985 non-stop debugging. Setting this to @code{off} switches back to
5986 normal debugging, though remaining in non-stop mode.
5989 Show whether observer mode is on or off.
5991 @kindex may-write-registers
5992 @item set may-write-registers on
5993 @itemx set may-write-registers off
5994 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the values of
5995 registers, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}, or the
5996 @code{jump} command. It defaults to @code{on}.
5998 @item show may-write-registers
5999 Show the current permission to write registers.
6001 @kindex may-write-memory
6002 @item set may-write-memory on
6003 @itemx set may-write-memory off
6004 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the contents
6005 of memory, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}. It
6006 defaults to @code{on}.
6008 @item show may-write-memory
6009 Show the current permission to write memory.
6011 @kindex may-insert-breakpoints
6012 @item set may-insert-breakpoints on
6013 @itemx set may-insert-breakpoints off
6014 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert breakpoints.
6015 This affects all breakpoints, including internal breakpoints defined
6016 by @value{GDBN}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6018 @item show may-insert-breakpoints
6019 Show the current permission to insert breakpoints.
6021 @kindex may-insert-tracepoints
6022 @item set may-insert-tracepoints on
6023 @itemx set may-insert-tracepoints off
6024 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert (regular)
6025 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
6026 non-fast tracepoints, fast tracepoints being under the control of
6027 @code{may-insert-fast-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6029 @item show may-insert-tracepoints
6030 Show the current permission to insert tracepoints.
6032 @kindex may-insert-fast-tracepoints
6033 @item set may-insert-fast-tracepoints on
6034 @itemx set may-insert-fast-tracepoints off
6035 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert fast
6036 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
6037 fast tracepoints, regular (non-fast) tracepoints being under the
6038 control of @code{may-insert-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6040 @item show may-insert-fast-tracepoints
6041 Show the current permission to insert fast tracepoints.
6043 @kindex may-interrupt
6044 @item set may-interrupt on
6045 @itemx set may-interrupt off
6046 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to interrupt or stop
6047 program execution. When this variable is @code{off}, the
6048 @code{interrupt} command will have no effect, nor will
6049 @kbd{Ctrl-c}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6051 @item show may-interrupt
6052 Show the current permission to interrupt or stop the program.
6056 @node Reverse Execution
6057 @chapter Running programs backward
6058 @cindex reverse execution
6059 @cindex running programs backward
6061 When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
6062 you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
6063 If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
6064 ``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
6066 A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
6067 to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
6068 program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
6069 revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
6070 deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
6071 all target environments can support reverse execution.
6073 When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
6074 have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
6075 order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
6076 thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
6077 the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
6078 instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
6079 a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
6080 should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
6081 prior values@footnote{
6082 Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
6083 memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
6084 targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
6086 The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
6087 requires only that the target do something reasonable when
6088 @value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
6089 results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
6090 @value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
6091 assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
6092 consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
6095 If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
6096 reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
6099 @kindex reverse-continue
6100 @kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
6101 @item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
6102 @itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
6103 Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
6104 in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
6105 exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
6106 asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
6108 @kindex reverse-step
6109 @kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
6110 @item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6111 Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
6112 different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
6114 Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
6115 at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
6116 executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
6117 debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
6118 the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
6119 statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
6121 Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
6122 called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
6124 @kindex reverse-stepi
6125 @kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
6126 @item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6127 Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
6128 to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
6129 counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
6130 if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
6131 back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
6133 @kindex reverse-next
6134 @kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
6135 @item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6136 Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
6137 the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
6138 calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
6139 the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
6140 to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
6141 just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
6142 line of a function back to its return to its caller
6143 @footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
6145 @kindex reverse-nexti
6146 @kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
6147 @item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6148 Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
6149 in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
6150 That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
6151 another function, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
6152 in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
6155 @kindex reverse-finish
6156 @item reverse-finish
6157 Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
6158 current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
6159 where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
6160 function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
6162 @kindex set exec-direction
6163 @item set exec-direction
6164 Set the direction of target execution.
6165 @item set exec-direction reverse
6166 @cindex execute forward or backward in time
6167 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
6168 exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
6169 @code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
6170 command cannot be used in reverse mode.
6171 @item set exec-direction forward
6172 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
6173 This is the default.
6177 @node Process Record and Replay
6178 @chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
6179 @cindex process record and replay
6180 @cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
6182 On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
6183 and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
6184 replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
6187 When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
6188 for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
6189 mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
6190 instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
6191 code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
6192 really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
6193 program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
6194 changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
6198 If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
6199 @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
6200 inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
6203 The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
6204 (@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
6205 inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
6206 this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
6207 log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
6208 support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
6210 When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
6211 replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
6212 previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
6213 platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
6215 For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
6216 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
6219 @kindex target record
6220 @kindex target record-full
6221 @kindex target record-btrace
6224 @kindex record btrace
6228 @item record @var{method}
6229 This command starts the process record and replay target. The
6230 recording method can be specified as parameter. Without a parameter
6231 the command uses the @code{full} recording method. The following
6232 recording methods are available:
6236 Full record/replay recording using @value{GDBN}'s software record and
6237 replay implementation. This method allows replaying and reverse
6241 Hardware-supported instruction recording. This method does not allow
6242 replaying and reverse execution.
6244 This recording method may not be available on all processors.
6247 The process record and replay target can only debug a process that is
6248 already running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with
6249 the @kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording
6250 with the @kbd{record @var{method}} command.
6252 Both @code{record @var{method}} and @code{rec @var{method}} are
6253 aliases of @code{target record-@var{method}}.
6255 @cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
6256 Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
6257 will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
6258 is started. That's because the process record and replay target
6259 doesn't support displaced stepping.
6261 @cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
6262 @cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
6263 If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
6264 the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), not
6265 all recording methods are available. The @code{full} recording method
6266 does not support these two modes.
6271 Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
6272 replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
6273 inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
6275 When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
6276 the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
6277 next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
6278 you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
6279 will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
6281 On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
6282 while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
6283 but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
6284 at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
6285 usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
6287 When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
6288 process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
6292 Go to a specific location in the execution log. There are several
6293 ways to specify the location to go to:
6296 @item record goto begin
6297 @itemx record goto start
6298 Go to the beginning of the execution log.
6300 @item record goto end
6301 Go to the end of the execution log.
6303 @item record goto @var{n}
6304 Go to instruction number @var{n} in the execution log.
6308 @item record save @var{filename}
6309 Save the execution log to a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6310 Default filename is @file{gdb_record.@var{process_id}}, where
6311 @var{process_id} is the process ID of the inferior.
6313 This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6315 @kindex record restore
6316 @item record restore @var{filename}
6317 Restore the execution log from a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6318 File must have been created with @code{record save}.
6320 @kindex set record full
6321 @item set record full insn-number-max @var{limit}
6322 @itemx set record full insn-number-max unlimited
6323 Set the limit of instructions to be recorded for the @code{full}
6324 recording method. Default value is 200000.
6326 If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
6327 deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
6328 instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
6329 instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
6330 instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
6331 (Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
6332 lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
6333 the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
6335 If @var{limit} is @code{unlimited} or zero, @value{GDBN} will never
6336 delete recorded instructions from the execution log. The number of
6337 recorded instructions is limited only by the available memory.
6339 @kindex show record full
6340 @item show record full insn-number-max
6341 Show the limit of instructions to be recorded with the @code{full}
6344 @item set record full stop-at-limit
6345 Control the behavior of the @code{full} recording method when the
6346 number of recorded instructions reaches the limit. If ON (the
6347 default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit is reached for the
6348 first time and ask you whether you want to stop the inferior or
6349 continue running it and recording the execution log. If you decide
6350 to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will cause the
6351 oldest one to be deleted.
6353 If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
6354 oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
6356 @item show record full stop-at-limit
6357 Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
6359 @item set record full memory-query
6360 Control the behavior when @value{GDBN} is unable to record memory
6361 changes caused by an instruction for the @code{full} recording method.
6362 If ON, @value{GDBN} will query whether to stop the inferior in that
6365 If this option is OFF (the default), @value{GDBN} will automatically
6366 ignore the effect of such instructions on memory. Later, when
6367 @value{GDBN} replays this execution log, it will mark the log of this
6368 instruction as not accessible, and it will not affect the replay
6371 @item show record full memory-query
6372 Show the current setting of @code{memory-query}.
6376 Show various statistics about the recording depending on the recording
6381 For the @code{full} recording method, it shows the state of process
6382 record and its in-memory execution log buffer, including:
6386 Whether in record mode or replay mode.
6388 Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
6390 Highest recorded instruction number.
6392 Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
6394 Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
6396 Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
6400 For the @code{btrace} recording method, it shows the number of
6401 instructions that have been recorded and the number of blocks of
6402 sequential control-flow that is formed by the recorded instructions.
6405 @kindex record delete
6408 When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
6409 subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
6410 from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
6411 recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
6413 @kindex record instruction-history
6414 @kindex rec instruction-history
6415 @item record instruction-history
6416 Disassembles instructions from the recorded execution log. By
6417 default, ten instructions are disassembled. This can be changed using
6418 the @code{set record instruction-history-size} command. Instructions
6419 are printed in execution order. There are several ways to specify
6420 what part of the execution log to disassemble:
6423 @item record instruction-history @var{insn}
6424 Disassembles ten instructions starting from instruction number
6427 @item record instruction-history @var{insn}, +/-@var{n}
6428 Disassembles @var{n} instructions around instruction number
6429 @var{insn}. If @var{n} is preceded with @code{+}, disassembles
6430 @var{n} instructions after instruction number @var{insn}. If
6431 @var{n} is preceded with @code{-}, disassembles @var{n}
6432 instructions before instruction number @var{insn}.
6434 @item record instruction-history
6435 Disassembles ten more instructions after the last disassembly.
6437 @item record instruction-history -
6438 Disassembles ten more instructions before the last disassembly.
6440 @item record instruction-history @var{begin} @var{end}
6441 Disassembles instructions beginning with instruction number
6442 @var{begin} until instruction number @var{end}. The instruction
6443 number @var{end} is not included.
6446 This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6449 @item set record instruction-history-size @var{size}
6450 @itemx set record instruction-history-size unlimited
6451 Define how many instructions to disassemble in the @code{record
6452 instruction-history} command. The default value is 10.
6453 A @var{size} of @code{unlimited} means unlimited instructions.
6456 @item show record instruction-history-size
6457 Show how many instructions to disassemble in the @code{record
6458 instruction-history} command.
6460 @kindex record function-call-history
6461 @kindex rec function-call-history
6462 @item record function-call-history
6463 Prints the execution history at function granularity. It prints one
6464 line for each sequence of instructions that belong to the same
6465 function giving the name of that function, the source lines
6466 for this instruction sequence (if the @code{/l} modifier is
6467 specified), and the instructions numbers that form the sequence (if
6468 the @code{/i} modifier is specified).
6471 (@value{GDBP}) @b{list 1, 10}
6482 (@value{GDBP}) @b{record function-call-history /l}
6488 By default, ten lines are printed. This can be changed using the
6489 @code{set record function-call-history-size} command. Functions are
6490 printed in execution order. There are several ways to specify what
6494 @item record function-call-history @var{func}
6495 Prints ten functions starting from function number @var{func}.
6497 @item record function-call-history @var{func}, +/-@var{n}
6498 Prints @var{n} functions around function number @var{func}. If
6499 @var{n} is preceded with @code{+}, prints @var{n} functions after
6500 function number @var{func}. If @var{n} is preceded with @code{-},
6501 prints @var{n} functions before function number @var{func}.
6503 @item record function-call-history
6504 Prints ten more functions after the last ten-line print.
6506 @item record function-call-history -
6507 Prints ten more functions before the last ten-line print.
6509 @item record function-call-history @var{begin} @var{end}
6510 Prints functions beginning with function number @var{begin} until
6511 function number @var{end}. The function number @var{end} is not
6515 This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6517 @item set record function-call-history-size @var{size}
6518 @itemx set record function-call-history-size unlimited
6519 Define how many lines to print in the
6520 @code{record function-call-history} command. The default value is 10.
6521 A size of @code{unlimited} means unlimited lines.
6523 @item show record function-call-history-size
6524 Show how many lines to print in the
6525 @code{record function-call-history} command.
6530 @chapter Examining the Stack
6532 When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
6533 stopped and how it got there.
6536 Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
6538 That information includes the location of the call in your program,
6539 the arguments of the call,
6540 and the local variables of the function being called.
6541 The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
6542 The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
6545 When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
6546 stack allow you to see all of this information.
6548 @cindex selected frame
6549 One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
6550 @value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
6551 particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
6552 your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
6553 special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
6554 interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6556 When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
6557 currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
6558 @code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
6561 * Frames:: Stack frames
6562 * Backtrace:: Backtraces
6563 * Frame Filter Management:: Managing frame filters
6564 * Selection:: Selecting a frame
6565 * Frame Info:: Information on a frame
6570 @section Stack Frames
6572 @cindex frame, definition
6574 The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
6575 frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
6576 with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
6577 to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
6578 which the function is executing.
6580 @cindex initial frame
6581 @cindex outermost frame
6582 @cindex innermost frame
6583 When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
6584 function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
6585 @dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
6586 made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
6587 is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
6588 the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
6589 actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
6590 recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
6592 @cindex frame pointer
6593 Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
6594 stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
6595 kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
6596 address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
6597 in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
6598 (@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
6600 @cindex frame number
6601 @value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
6602 zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
6603 and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
6604 they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
6605 frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
6607 @c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
6608 @c underflow problems.
6609 @cindex frameless execution
6610 Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
6611 without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
6613 @samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
6615 generates functions without a frame.)
6616 This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
6617 the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
6618 with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
6619 has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
6620 it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
6621 correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
6622 no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
6625 @kindex frame@r{, command}
6626 @cindex current stack frame
6627 @item frame @var{args}
6628 The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
6629 and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
6630 address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
6631 @code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
6633 @kindex select-frame
6634 @cindex selecting frame silently
6636 The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
6637 to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
6645 @cindex call stack traces
6646 A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
6647 line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
6648 frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
6651 @anchor{backtrace-command}
6654 @kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
6657 Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
6658 frames in the stack.
6660 You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
6661 character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
6663 @item backtrace @var{n}
6665 Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
6667 @item backtrace -@var{n}
6669 Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
6671 @item backtrace full
6673 @itemx bt full @var{n}
6674 @itemx bt full -@var{n}
6675 Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
6676 number of frames to print, as described above.
6678 @item backtrace no-filters
6679 @itemx bt no-filters
6680 @itemx bt no-filters @var{n}
6681 @itemx bt no-filters -@var{n}
6682 @itemx bt no-filters full
6683 @itemx bt no-filters full @var{n}
6684 @itemx bt no-filters full -@var{n}
6685 Do not run Python frame filters on this backtrace. @xref{Frame
6686 Filter API}, for more information. Additionally use @ref{disable
6687 frame-filter all} to turn off all frame filters. This is only
6688 relevant when @value{GDBN} has been configured with @code{Python}
6694 The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
6695 are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
6697 @cindex multiple threads, backtrace
6698 In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
6699 backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
6700 several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
6701 (@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
6702 apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
6703 the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
6704 multi-threaded program.
6706 Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
6707 The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
6708 print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
6709 line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
6710 counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
6713 Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
6714 @samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
6718 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6720 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
6721 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
6723 (More stack frames follow...)
6728 The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
6729 value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
6730 code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
6733 The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
6734 @code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
6735 only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
6736 @kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
6737 on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
6739 @cindex optimized out, in backtrace
6740 @cindex function call arguments, optimized out
6741 If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
6742 optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
6743 never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
6744 passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
6745 in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
6746 arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
6747 such a backtrace might look like:
6751 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6753 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<optimized out>) at macro.c:242
6754 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
6756 (More stack frames follow...)
6761 The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
6762 shown as @samp{<optimized out>}.
6764 If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
6765 either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
6766 you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
6768 @cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
6769 @cindex program entry point
6770 @cindex startup code, and backtrace
6771 Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
6772 libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
6773 @code{main}@footnote{
6774 Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
6775 environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
6776 entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
6777 When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
6778 it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
6779 system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
6781 If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
6782 in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
6785 @item set backtrace past-main
6786 @itemx set backtrace past-main on
6787 @kindex set backtrace
6788 Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
6790 @item set backtrace past-main off
6791 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
6794 @item show backtrace past-main
6795 @kindex show backtrace
6796 Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
6798 @item set backtrace past-entry
6799 @itemx set backtrace past-entry on
6800 Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
6801 This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
6802 and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
6804 @item set backtrace past-entry off
6805 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
6806 application. This is the default.
6808 @item show backtrace past-entry
6809 Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
6811 @item set backtrace limit @var{n}
6812 @itemx set backtrace limit 0
6813 @itemx set backtrace limit unlimited
6814 @cindex backtrace limit
6815 Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of @code{unlimited}
6816 or zero means unlimited levels.
6818 @item show backtrace limit
6819 Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
6822 You can control how file names are displayed.
6825 @item set filename-display
6826 @itemx set filename-display relative
6827 @cindex filename-display
6828 Display file names relative to the compilation directory. This is the default.
6830 @item set filename-display basename
6831 Display only basename of a filename.
6833 @item set filename-display absolute
6834 Display an absolute filename.
6836 @item show filename-display
6837 Show the current way to display filenames.
6840 @node Frame Filter Management
6841 @section Management of Frame Filters.
6842 @cindex managing frame filters
6844 Frame filters are Python based utilities to manage and decorate the
6845 output of frames. @xref{Frame Filter API}, for further information.
6847 Managing frame filters is performed by several commands available
6848 within @value{GDBN}, detailed here.
6851 @kindex info frame-filter
6852 @item info frame-filter
6853 Print a list of installed frame filters from all dictionaries, showing
6854 their name, priority and enabled status.
6856 @kindex disable frame-filter
6857 @anchor{disable frame-filter all}
6858 @item disable frame-filter @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
6859 Disable a frame filter in the dictionary matching
6860 @var{filter-dictionary}, or @code{all}, and @var{filter-name}.
6861 @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{all}, @code{global},
6862 @code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
6863 dictionary resides. When @code{all} is specified, all frame filters
6864 across all dictionaries are disabled. @var{filter-name} is the name
6865 of the frame filter and is used when @code{all} is not the option for
6866 @var{filter-dictionary}. A disabled frame-filter is not deleted, it
6867 may be enabled again later.
6869 @kindex enable frame-filter
6870 @item enable frame-filter @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
6871 Enable a frame filter in the dictionary matching
6872 @var{filter-dictionary}, or @code{all}, and @var{filter-name}.
6873 @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{all}, @code{global},
6874 @code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
6875 dictionary resides. When @code{all} is specified, all frame filters across
6876 all dictionaries are enabled. @var{filter-name} is the name of the frame
6877 filter and is used when @code{all} is not the option for
6878 @var{filter-dictionary}.
6883 (gdb) info frame-filter
6885 global frame-filters:
6886 Priority Enabled Name
6887 1000 No PrimaryFunctionFilter
6890 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6891 Priority Enabled Name
6892 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6894 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6895 Priority Enabled Name
6896 999 Yes BuildProgra Filter
6898 (gdb) disable frame-filter /build/test BuildProgramFilter
6899 (gdb) info frame-filter
6901 global frame-filters:
6902 Priority Enabled Name
6903 1000 No PrimaryFunctionFilter
6906 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6907 Priority Enabled Name
6908 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6910 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6911 Priority Enabled Name
6912 999 No BuildProgramFilter
6914 (gdb) enable frame-filter global PrimaryFunctionFilter
6915 (gdb) info frame-filter
6917 global frame-filters:
6918 Priority Enabled Name
6919 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
6922 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6923 Priority Enabled Name
6924 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6926 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6927 Priority Enabled Name
6928 999 No BuildProgramFilter
6931 @kindex set frame-filter priority
6932 @item set frame-filter priority @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name} @var{priority}
6933 Set the @var{priority} of a frame filter in the dictionary matching
6934 @var{filter-dictionary}, and the frame filter name matching
6935 @var{filter-name}. @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{global},
6936 @code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
6937 dictionary resides. @var{priority} is an integer.
6939 @kindex show frame-filter priority
6940 @item show frame-filter priority @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
6941 Show the @var{priority} of a frame filter in the dictionary matching
6942 @var{filter-dictionary}, and the frame filter name matching
6943 @var{filter-name}. @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{global},
6944 @code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
6950 (gdb) info frame-filter
6952 global frame-filters:
6953 Priority Enabled Name
6954 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
6957 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6958 Priority Enabled Name
6959 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6961 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6962 Priority Enabled Name
6963 999 No BuildProgramFilter
6965 (gdb) set frame-filter priority global Reverse 50
6966 (gdb) info frame-filter
6968 global frame-filters:
6969 Priority Enabled Name
6970 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
6973 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
6974 Priority Enabled Name
6975 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
6977 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
6978 Priority Enabled Name
6979 999 No BuildProgramFilter
6984 @section Selecting a Frame
6986 Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
6987 whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
6988 selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
6989 of the stack frame just selected.
6992 @kindex frame@r{, selecting}
6993 @kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
6996 Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
6997 (currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
6998 innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
7001 @item frame @var{addr}
7003 Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
7004 chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
7005 impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
7006 addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
7007 switches between them.
7009 On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
7010 select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
7012 On the @acronym{MIPS} and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
7013 pointer and a program counter.
7015 On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
7016 pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
7020 Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
7021 advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
7022 that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
7025 @kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
7027 Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
7028 advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
7029 that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
7030 abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
7033 All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
7034 frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
7035 arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
7036 frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
7044 #1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
7046 10 read_input_file (argv[i]);
7050 After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
7051 prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
7052 You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
7053 editing program by typing @code{edit}.
7054 @xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
7058 @kindex down-silently
7060 @item up-silently @var{n}
7061 @itemx down-silently @var{n}
7062 These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
7063 respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
7064 causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
7065 in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
7070 @section Information About a Frame
7072 There are several other commands to print information about the selected
7078 When used without any argument, this command does not change which
7079 frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
7080 selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
7081 argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
7082 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
7085 @kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
7088 This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
7093 the address of the frame
7095 the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
7097 the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
7099 the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
7101 the address of the frame's arguments
7103 the address of the frame's local variables
7105 the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
7107 which registers were saved in the frame
7110 @noindent The verbose description is useful when
7111 something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
7112 the usual conventions.
7114 @item info frame @var{addr}
7115 @itemx info f @var{addr}
7116 Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
7117 selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
7118 command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
7119 architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
7120 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
7124 Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
7128 Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
7129 line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
7130 accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
7136 @chapter Examining Source Files
7138 @value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
7139 information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
7140 used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
7141 the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
7142 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
7143 execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
7144 source files by explicit command.
7146 If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
7147 prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
7148 @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
7151 * List:: Printing source lines
7152 * Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
7153 * Edit:: Editing source files
7154 * Search:: Searching source files
7155 * Source Path:: Specifying source directories
7156 * Machine Code:: Source and machine code
7160 @section Printing Source Lines
7163 @kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
7164 To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
7165 (abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
7166 There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
7167 print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
7169 Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
7172 @item list @var{linenum}
7173 Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
7174 current source file.
7176 @item list @var{function}
7177 Print lines centered around the beginning of function
7181 Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
7182 @code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
7183 printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
7184 as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
7185 Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
7188 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
7191 @cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
7192 By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
7193 the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
7196 @kindex set listsize
7197 @item set listsize @var{count}
7198 @itemx set listsize unlimited
7199 Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
7200 the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
7201 Setting @var{count} to @code{unlimited} or 0 means there's no limit.
7203 @kindex show listsize
7205 Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
7208 Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
7209 so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
7210 than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
7211 argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
7212 each repetition moves up in the source file.
7214 In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
7215 @dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
7216 of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
7217 to specify some source line.
7219 Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
7222 @item list @var{linespec}
7223 Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
7225 @item list @var{first},@var{last}
7226 Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
7227 linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
7228 source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
7229 the same source file as the first linespec.
7231 @item list ,@var{last}
7232 Print lines ending with @var{last}.
7234 @item list @var{first},
7235 Print lines starting with @var{first}.
7238 Print lines just after the lines last printed.
7241 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
7244 As described in the preceding table.
7247 @node Specify Location
7248 @section Specifying a Location
7249 @cindex specifying location
7252 Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
7253 of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
7254 debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
7255 for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
7257 Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
7258 @value{GDBN} understands:
7262 Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
7265 @itemx +@var{offset}
7266 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
7267 line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
7268 printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
7269 execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
7270 (@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
7271 used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
7272 this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
7275 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
7276 Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
7277 If @var{filename} is a relative file name, then it will match any
7278 source file name with the same trailing components. For example, if
7279 @var{filename} is @samp{gcc/expr.c}, then it will match source file
7280 name of @file{/build/trunk/gcc/expr.c}, but not
7281 @file{/build/trunk/libcpp/expr.c} or @file{/build/trunk/gcc/x-expr.c}.
7283 @item @var{function}
7284 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
7285 For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
7287 @item @var{function}:@var{label}
7288 Specifies the line where @var{label} appears in @var{function}.
7290 @item @var{filename}:@var{function}
7291 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
7292 in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
7293 function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
7294 functions in different source files.
7297 Specifies the line at which the label named @var{label} appears.
7298 @value{GDBN} searches for the label in the function corresponding to
7299 the currently selected stack frame. If there is no current selected
7300 stack frame (for instance, if the inferior is not running), then
7301 @value{GDBN} will not search for a label.
7303 @item *@var{address}
7304 Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
7305 commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
7306 line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
7307 breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
7308 parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
7311 Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
7312 language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
7313 address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
7314 semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
7315 that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
7319 @item @var{expression}
7320 Any expression valid in the current working language.
7322 @item @var{funcaddr}
7323 An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
7324 C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
7325 simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
7326 of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
7327 @code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
7328 (although the Pascal form also works).
7330 This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
7331 before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
7333 @item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
7334 Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
7335 file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
7336 specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
7337 functions with identical names in different source files.
7340 @cindex breakpoint at static probe point
7341 @item -pstap|-probe-stap @r{[}@var{objfile}:@r{[}@var{provider}:@r{]}@r{]}@var{name}
7342 The @sc{gnu}/Linux tool @code{SystemTap} provides a way for
7343 applications to embed static probes. @xref{Static Probe Points}, for more
7344 information on finding and using static probes. This form of linespec
7345 specifies the location of such a static probe.
7347 If @var{objfile} is given, only probes coming from that shared library
7348 or executable matching @var{objfile} as a regular expression are considered.
7349 If @var{provider} is given, then only probes from that provider are considered.
7350 If several probes match the spec, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at
7351 each one of those probes.
7357 @section Editing Source Files
7358 @cindex editing source files
7361 @kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
7362 To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
7363 The editing program of your choice
7364 is invoked with the current line set to
7365 the active line in the program.
7366 Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
7367 want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
7370 @item edit @var{location}
7371 Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
7372 that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
7373 specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
7374 of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
7375 command most commonly used:
7378 @item edit @var{number}
7379 Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
7381 @item edit @var{function}
7382 Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
7387 @subsection Choosing your Editor
7388 You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
7390 The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
7391 following command-line syntax:
7393 ex +@var{number} file
7395 The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
7396 the file where to start editing.}.
7397 By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
7398 by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
7399 @value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
7400 @code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
7406 or in the @code{csh} shell,
7408 setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
7413 @section Searching Source Files
7414 @cindex searching source files
7416 There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
7421 @kindex forward-search
7422 @kindex fo @r{(@code{forward-search})}
7423 @item forward-search @var{regexp}
7424 @itemx search @var{regexp}
7425 The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
7426 starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
7427 @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
7428 synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
7431 @kindex reverse-search
7432 @item reverse-search @var{regexp}
7433 The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
7434 with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
7435 for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
7436 this command as @code{rev}.
7440 @section Specifying Source Directories
7443 @cindex directories for source files
7444 Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
7445 files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
7446 the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
7447 session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
7448 this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
7449 it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
7450 in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
7452 For example, suppose an executable references the file
7453 @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
7454 @file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
7455 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
7456 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
7457 message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
7458 source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
7459 Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
7460 the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
7461 @file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
7462 @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
7464 Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
7465 names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
7466 instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
7467 is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
7468 @file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
7469 that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
7471 Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
7474 Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
7475 any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
7476 each line is in the file.
7480 When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
7481 and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
7482 To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
7484 The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
7485 script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
7487 In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
7488 that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
7489 rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
7490 debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
7491 directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
7492 two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
7493 the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
7494 In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
7495 @var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
7496 of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
7497 source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
7498 name to look up the sources.
7500 Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
7501 moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
7502 @value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
7503 @file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
7504 @file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
7505 of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
7506 substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
7507 (@pxref{set substitute-path}).
7509 To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
7510 @var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
7511 For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
7512 @file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
7513 not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
7514 is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
7515 not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
7517 In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
7518 command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
7519 the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
7520 subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
7521 subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
7522 preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
7523 allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
7526 @code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
7527 The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
7528 longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
7529 the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
7530 for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
7531 located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
7532 method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
7534 @cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
7535 @cindex default source path substitution
7536 You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
7537 configuring @value{GDBN} with the
7538 @samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
7539 should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
7540 prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
7541 directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
7542 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
7543 location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
7544 with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
7548 @item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
7549 @item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
7550 Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
7551 directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
7552 (@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
7553 part of absolute file names) or
7554 whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
7555 path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
7559 @vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
7560 @vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
7561 @cindex compilation directory
7562 @cindex current directory
7563 @cindex working directory
7564 @cindex directory, current
7565 @cindex directory, compilation
7566 You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
7567 directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
7568 working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
7569 tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
7570 session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
7571 directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
7574 Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
7576 @c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
7577 @c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
7579 @item set directories @var{path-list}
7580 @kindex set directories
7581 Set the source path to @var{path-list}.
7582 @samp{$cdir:$cwd} are added if missing.
7584 @item show directories
7585 @kindex show directories
7586 Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
7588 @anchor{set substitute-path}
7589 @item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
7590 @kindex set substitute-path
7591 Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
7592 current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
7593 @var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
7595 For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
7596 @file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
7599 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
7603 will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
7604 @samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
7605 @file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
7607 In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
7608 the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
7609 defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
7612 For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
7615 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
7616 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
7620 @value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
7621 @file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
7622 use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
7623 @file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
7626 @item unset substitute-path [path]
7627 @kindex unset substitute-path
7628 If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
7629 for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
7630 A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
7632 If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
7634 @item show substitute-path [path]
7635 @kindex show substitute-path
7636 If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
7637 which would rewrite that path, if any.
7639 If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
7644 If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
7645 interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
7646 versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
7650 Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
7653 Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
7654 directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
7655 directories in one command.
7659 @section Source and Machine Code
7660 @cindex source line and its code address
7662 You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
7663 addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
7664 a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
7665 @code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
7666 source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
7667 mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
7668 line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
7673 @item info line @var{linespec}
7674 Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
7675 source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
7676 the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
7679 For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
7680 the object code for the first line of function
7681 @code{m4_changequote}:
7683 @c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
7684 @c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
7686 (@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
7687 Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
7691 @cindex code address and its source line
7692 We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
7693 @var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
7695 (@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
7696 Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
7699 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
7700 @cindex @code{x} command, default address
7701 @kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
7702 After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
7703 is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
7704 sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
7705 ,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
7706 convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7711 @cindex assembly instructions
7712 @cindex instructions, assembly
7713 @cindex machine instructions
7714 @cindex listing machine instructions
7716 @itemx disassemble /m
7717 @itemx disassemble /r
7718 This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
7719 instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
7720 the @code{/m} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex as well as
7721 in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r}.
7722 The default memory range is the function surrounding the
7723 program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
7724 command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
7725 surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
7726 be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
7727 arguments specify a range of addresses to dump, in one of two forms:
7730 @item @var{start},@var{end}
7731 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to @var{end} (exclusive)
7732 @item @var{start},+@var{length}
7733 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to
7734 @code{@var{start}+@var{length}} (exclusive).
7738 When 2 arguments are specified, the name of the function is also
7739 printed (since there could be several functions in the given range).
7741 The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
7742 @samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
7744 If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
7745 the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
7748 The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
7749 HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
7752 (@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
7753 Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
7754 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
7755 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
7756 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7757 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
7758 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
7759 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
7760 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
7761 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7762 End of assembler dump.
7765 Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86, when the
7766 program is stopped just after function prologue:
7769 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
7770 Dump of assembler code for function main:
7772 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
7773 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
7774 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
7775 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
7776 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
7778 6 printf ("Hello.\n");
7779 => 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
7780 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
7784 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
7785 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
7786 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
7788 End of assembler dump.
7791 Here is another example showing raw instructions in hex for AMD x86-64,
7794 (gdb) disas /r 0x400281,+10
7795 Dump of assembler code from 0x400281 to 0x40028b:
7796 0x0000000000400281: 38 36 cmp %dh,(%rsi)
7797 0x0000000000400283: 2d 36 34 2e 73 sub $0x732e3436,%eax
7798 0x0000000000400288: 6f outsl %ds:(%rsi),(%dx)
7799 0x0000000000400289: 2e 32 00 xor %cs:(%rax),%al
7800 End of assembler dump.
7803 Addresses cannot be specified as a linespec (@pxref{Specify Location}).
7804 So, for example, if you want to disassemble function @code{bar}
7805 in file @file{foo.c}, you must type @samp{disassemble 'foo.c'::bar}
7806 and not @samp{disassemble foo.c:bar}.
7808 Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
7809 mnemonics or other syntax.
7811 For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
7812 instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
7813 libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
7814 location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
7815 might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
7818 @kindex set disassembly-flavor
7819 @cindex Intel disassembly flavor
7820 @cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
7821 @item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
7822 Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
7823 program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
7825 Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
7826 can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
7827 The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
7828 assemblers for x86-based targets.
7830 @kindex show disassembly-flavor
7831 @item show disassembly-flavor
7832 Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
7836 @kindex set disassemble-next-line
7837 @kindex show disassemble-next-line
7838 @item set disassemble-next-line
7839 @itemx show disassemble-next-line
7840 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
7841 line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
7842 display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
7843 program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
7844 displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
7845 possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
7846 (e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
7847 info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
7848 next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
7849 AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
7850 if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
7851 @value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
7852 with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
7853 OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
7859 @chapter Examining Data
7861 @cindex printing data
7862 @cindex examining data
7865 The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
7866 command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
7867 evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
7868 program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
7869 Different Languages}). It may also print the expression using a
7870 Python-based pretty-printer (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
7873 @item print @var{expr}
7874 @itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
7875 @var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
7876 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
7877 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
7878 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
7882 @itemx print /@var{f}
7883 @cindex reprint the last value
7884 If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
7885 @dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
7886 conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
7889 A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
7890 It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
7891 specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7893 If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
7894 fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
7895 command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
7898 @cindex exploring hierarchical data structures
7900 Another way of examining values of expressions and type information is
7901 through the Python extension command @code{explore} (available only if
7902 the @value{GDBN} build is configured with @code{--with-python}). It
7903 offers an interactive way to start at the highest level (or, the most
7904 abstract level) of the data type of an expression (or, the data type
7905 itself) and explore all the way down to leaf scalar values/fields
7906 embedded in the higher level data types.
7909 @item explore @var{arg}
7910 @var{arg} is either an expression (in the source language), or a type
7911 visible in the current context of the program being debugged.
7914 The working of the @code{explore} command can be illustrated with an
7915 example. If a data type @code{struct ComplexStruct} is defined in your
7925 struct ComplexStruct
7927 struct SimpleStruct *ss_p;
7933 followed by variable declarations as
7936 struct SimpleStruct ss = @{ 10, 1.11 @};
7937 struct ComplexStruct cs = @{ &ss, @{ 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 @} @};
7941 then, the value of the variable @code{cs} can be explored using the
7942 @code{explore} command as follows.
7946 The value of `cs' is a struct/class of type `struct ComplexStruct' with
7947 the following fields:
7949 ss_p = <Enter 0 to explore this field of type `struct SimpleStruct *'>
7950 arr = <Enter 1 to explore this field of type `int [10]'>
7952 Enter the field number of choice:
7956 Since the fields of @code{cs} are not scalar values, you are being
7957 prompted to chose the field you want to explore. Let's say you choose
7958 the field @code{ss_p} by entering @code{0}. Then, since this field is a
7959 pointer, you will be asked if it is pointing to a single value. From
7960 the declaration of @code{cs} above, it is indeed pointing to a single
7961 value, hence you enter @code{y}. If you enter @code{n}, then you will
7962 be asked if it were pointing to an array of values, in which case this
7963 field will be explored as if it were an array.
7966 `cs.ss_p' is a pointer to a value of type `struct SimpleStruct'
7967 Continue exploring it as a pointer to a single value [y/n]: y
7968 The value of `*(cs.ss_p)' is a struct/class of type `struct
7969 SimpleStruct' with the following fields:
7971 i = 10 .. (Value of type `int')
7972 d = 1.1100000000000001 .. (Value of type `double')
7974 Press enter to return to parent value:
7978 If the field @code{arr} of @code{cs} was chosen for exploration by
7979 entering @code{1} earlier, then since it is as array, you will be
7980 prompted to enter the index of the element in the array that you want
7984 `cs.arr' is an array of `int'.
7985 Enter the index of the element you want to explore in `cs.arr': 5
7987 `(cs.arr)[5]' is a scalar value of type `int'.
7991 Press enter to return to parent value:
7994 In general, at any stage of exploration, you can go deeper towards the
7995 leaf values by responding to the prompts appropriately, or hit the
7996 return key to return to the enclosing data structure (the @i{higher}
7997 level data structure).
7999 Similar to exploring values, you can use the @code{explore} command to
8000 explore types. Instead of specifying a value (which is typically a
8001 variable name or an expression valid in the current context of the
8002 program being debugged), you specify a type name. If you consider the
8003 same example as above, your can explore the type
8004 @code{struct ComplexStruct} by passing the argument
8005 @code{struct ComplexStruct} to the @code{explore} command.
8008 (gdb) explore struct ComplexStruct
8012 By responding to the prompts appropriately in the subsequent interactive
8013 session, you can explore the type @code{struct ComplexStruct} in a
8014 manner similar to how the value @code{cs} was explored in the above
8017 The @code{explore} command also has two sub-commands,
8018 @code{explore value} and @code{explore type}. The former sub-command is
8019 a way to explicitly specify that value exploration of the argument is
8020 being invoked, while the latter is a way to explicitly specify that type
8021 exploration of the argument is being invoked.
8024 @item explore value @var{expr}
8025 @cindex explore value
8026 This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the value of the
8027 expression @var{expr} (if @var{expr} is an expression valid in the
8028 current context of the program being debugged). The behavior of this
8029 command is identical to that of the behavior of the @code{explore}
8030 command being passed the argument @var{expr}.
8032 @item explore type @var{arg}
8033 @cindex explore type
8034 This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the type of @var{arg} (if
8035 @var{arg} is a type visible in the current context of program being
8036 debugged), or the type of the value/expression @var{arg} (if @var{arg}
8037 is an expression valid in the current context of the program being
8038 debugged). If @var{arg} is a type, then the behavior of this command is
8039 identical to that of the @code{explore} command being passed the
8040 argument @var{arg}. If @var{arg} is an expression, then the behavior of
8041 this command will be identical to that of the @code{explore} command
8042 being passed the type of @var{arg} as the argument.
8046 * Expressions:: Expressions
8047 * Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
8048 * Variables:: Program variables
8049 * Arrays:: Artificial arrays
8050 * Output Formats:: Output formats
8051 * Memory:: Examining memory
8052 * Auto Display:: Automatic display
8053 * Print Settings:: Print settings
8054 * Pretty Printing:: Python pretty printing
8055 * Value History:: Value history
8056 * Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
8057 * Convenience Funs:: Convenience functions
8058 * Registers:: Registers
8059 * Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
8060 * Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
8061 * OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
8062 * Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
8063 * Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
8064 * Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
8065 * Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
8066 character set than GDB does
8067 * Caching Remote Data:: Data caching for remote targets
8068 * Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
8072 @section Expressions
8075 @code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
8076 compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
8077 by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
8078 @value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
8079 casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
8080 you compiled your program to include this information; see
8083 @cindex arrays in expressions
8084 @value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
8085 the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
8086 you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
8087 of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
8088 to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
8089 is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
8091 Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
8092 this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
8093 Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
8096 In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
8097 expressions regardless of your programming language.
8099 @cindex casts, in expressions
8100 Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
8101 useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
8102 at that address in memory.
8103 @c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
8105 @value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
8106 to programming languages:
8110 @samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
8111 @xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
8114 @samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
8115 function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
8117 @cindex @{@var{type}@}
8118 @cindex type casting memory
8119 @cindex memory, viewing as typed object
8120 @cindex casts, to view memory
8121 @item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
8122 Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
8123 memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
8124 pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
8125 a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
8126 normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
8129 @node Ambiguous Expressions
8130 @section Ambiguous Expressions
8131 @cindex ambiguous expressions
8133 Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
8134 some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
8135 a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
8136 different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
8137 involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
8138 templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
8139 the same function name being defined in different contexts.
8141 In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
8142 the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
8143 can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
8144 @kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
8145 qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
8148 When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
8149 has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
8150 possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
8151 The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
8152 aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
8153 used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
8154 menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
8157 For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
8158 breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
8159 We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
8161 @c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
8164 (@value{GDBP}) b String::after
8167 [2] file:String.cc; line number:867
8168 [3] file:String.cc; line number:860
8169 [4] file:String.cc; line number:875
8170 [5] file:String.cc; line number:853
8171 [6] file:String.cc; line number:846
8172 [7] file:String.cc; line number:735
8174 Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
8175 Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
8176 Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
8177 Multiple breakpoints were set.
8178 Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
8185 @kindex set multiple-symbols
8186 @item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
8187 @cindex multiple-symbols menu
8189 This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
8192 By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
8193 the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
8194 automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
8195 a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
8196 inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
8197 then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
8198 For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
8199 in the use of the menu.
8201 When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
8202 when an ambiguity is detected.
8204 Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
8205 an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
8207 @kindex show multiple-symbols
8208 @item show multiple-symbols
8209 Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
8213 @section Program Variables
8215 The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
8218 Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
8219 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
8223 global (or file-static)
8230 visible according to the scope rules of the
8231 programming language from the point of execution in that frame
8234 @noindent This means that in the function
8249 you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
8250 executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
8251 examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
8252 the block where @code{b} is declared.
8254 @cindex variable name conflict
8255 There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
8256 scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
8257 in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
8258 function with the same name (in different source files). If that
8259 happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
8260 you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file by
8261 using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
8263 @cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
8265 @c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
8266 @cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
8269 @var{file}::@var{variable}
8270 @var{function}::@var{variable}
8274 Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
8275 static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
8276 make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
8277 to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
8280 (@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
8283 The @code{::} notation is normally used for referring to
8284 static variables, since you typically disambiguate uses of local variables
8285 in functions by selecting the appropriate frame and using the
8286 simple name of the variable. However, you may also use this notation
8287 to refer to local variables in frames enclosing the selected frame:
8296 process (a); /* Stop here */
8307 For example, if there is a breakpoint at the commented line,
8308 here is what you might see
8309 when the program stops after executing the call @code{bar(0)}:
8314 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
8317 #2 0x080483d0 in foo (a=5) at foobar.c:12
8320 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
8324 @cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
8325 These uses of @samp{::} are very rarely in conflict with the very similar
8326 use of the same notation in C@t{++}. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C@t{++}
8327 scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
8328 @c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
8331 @cindex wrong values
8332 @cindex variable values, wrong
8333 @cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
8334 @cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
8336 @emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
8337 wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
8338 scope, and just before exit.
8340 You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
8341 This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
8342 set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
8343 stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
8344 values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
8345 also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
8346 after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
8347 variable definitions may be gone.
8349 This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
8350 To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
8353 @cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
8354 Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
8355 unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
8356 opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
8357 offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
8358 might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
8359 happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
8362 No symbol "foo" in current context.
8365 To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
8366 different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
8367 formats. @xref{Compilation}, for more information on choosing compiler
8368 options. @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug
8369 info formats that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
8371 If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
8372 @value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
8373 by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
8374 type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
8376 If you append @kbd{@@entry} string to a function parameter name you get its
8377 value at the time the function got called. If the value is not available an
8378 error message is printed. Entry values are available only with some compilers.
8379 Entry values are normally also printed at the function parameter list according
8380 to @ref{set print entry-values}.
8383 Breakpoint 1, d (i=30) at gdb.base/entry-value.c:29
8389 (gdb) print i@@entry
8393 Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
8394 signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
8395 printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
8396 @code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
8397 defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
8402 signed char var1[] = "A";
8405 You get during debugging
8410 $2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
8414 @section Artificial Arrays
8416 @cindex artificial array
8418 @kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
8419 It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
8420 same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
8421 dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
8424 You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
8425 @dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
8426 operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
8427 and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
8428 of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
8429 the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
8430 argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
8431 following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
8432 example. If a program says
8435 int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
8439 you can print the contents of @code{array} with
8445 The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
8446 with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
8447 subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
8448 Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
8449 (@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
8451 Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
8452 This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
8453 The value need not be in memory:
8455 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
8456 $1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
8459 As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
8460 @samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
8461 the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
8463 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
8464 $2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
8467 Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
8468 moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
8469 actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
8470 of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
8471 to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
8472 Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
8473 interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
8474 instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
8475 structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
8476 in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
8486 @node Output Formats
8487 @section Output Formats
8489 @cindex formatted output
8490 @cindex output formats
8491 By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
8492 this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
8493 in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
8494 at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
8495 these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
8497 The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
8498 already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
8499 @code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
8500 letters supported are:
8504 Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
8508 Print as integer in signed decimal.
8511 Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
8514 Print as integer in octal.
8517 Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
8518 @footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
8519 used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
8520 see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
8523 @cindex unknown address, locating
8524 @cindex locate address
8525 Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
8526 the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
8527 where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
8530 (@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
8531 $3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
8535 The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
8536 @xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
8539 Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
8540 prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
8541 character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
8542 for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
8544 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
8545 @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
8546 constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
8550 Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
8551 using typical floating point syntax.
8554 @cindex printing strings
8555 @cindex printing byte arrays
8556 Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
8557 data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
8558 are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
8561 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
8562 @code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
8563 strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
8567 Like @samp{x} formatting, the value is treated as an integer and
8568 printed as hexadecimal, but leading zeros are printed to pad the value
8569 to the size of the integer type.
8572 @cindex raw printing
8573 Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
8574 use a Python-based pretty-printer, if one is available (@pxref{Pretty
8575 Printing}). This typically results in a higher-level display of the
8576 value's contents. The @samp{r} format bypasses any Python
8577 pretty-printer which might exist.
8580 For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
8587 Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
8588 names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
8590 To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
8591 you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
8592 expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
8595 @section Examining Memory
8597 You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
8598 any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
8600 @cindex examining memory
8602 @kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
8603 @item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
8606 Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
8609 @var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
8610 much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
8611 expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
8612 If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
8613 Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
8616 @item @var{n}, the repeat count
8617 The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
8618 how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
8619 @c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
8622 @item @var{f}, the display format
8623 The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
8624 (@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
8625 @samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
8626 The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
8627 each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
8629 @item @var{u}, the unit size
8630 The unit size is any of
8636 Halfwords (two bytes).
8638 Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
8640 Giant words (eight bytes).
8643 Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
8644 default unit the next time you use @code{x}. For the @samp{i} format,
8645 the unit size is ignored and is normally not written. For the @samp{s} format,
8646 the unit size defaults to @samp{b}, unless it is explicitly given.
8647 Use @kbd{x /hs} to display 16-bit char strings and @kbd{x /ws} to display
8648 32-bit strings. The next use of @kbd{x /s} will again display 8-bit strings.
8649 Note that the results depend on the programming language of the
8650 current compilation unit. If the language is C, the @samp{s}
8651 modifier will use the UTF-16 encoding while @samp{w} will use
8652 UTF-32. The encoding is set by the programming language and cannot
8655 @item @var{addr}, starting display address
8656 @var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
8657 memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
8658 it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
8659 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
8660 @var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
8661 other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
8662 the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
8663 starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
8664 a value from memory).
8667 For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
8668 (@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
8669 starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
8670 words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
8671 @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
8673 Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
8674 letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
8675 unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
8676 specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
8677 (However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
8679 Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
8680 and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
8681 @samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
8682 including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
8683 the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
8684 slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
8685 follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
8686 @code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
8687 instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
8689 All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
8690 easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
8691 you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
8692 instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
8693 with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
8694 the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
8695 for successive uses of @code{x}.
8697 When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
8698 counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
8701 (@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
8702 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
8703 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
8704 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
8705 => 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
8706 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
8709 @cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
8710 The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
8711 in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
8712 would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
8713 subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
8714 @code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
8715 examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
8716 @code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
8717 the convenience variable @code{$__}.
8719 If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
8720 are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
8721 address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
8723 @cindex remote memory comparison
8724 @cindex verify remote memory image
8725 When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
8726 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
8727 remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
8728 the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
8732 @kindex compare-sections
8733 @item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
8734 Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
8735 executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
8736 the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
8737 arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
8738 availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
8743 @section Automatic Display
8744 @cindex automatic display
8745 @cindex display of expressions
8747 If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
8748 (to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
8749 display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
8750 Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
8751 to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
8752 The automatic display looks like this:
8756 3: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
8760 This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
8761 displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
8762 specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
8763 whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
8764 specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
8765 or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
8769 @item display @var{expr}
8770 Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
8771 each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
8773 @code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
8775 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
8776 For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
8777 count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
8778 arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
8779 @xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
8781 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
8782 For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
8783 number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
8784 be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
8785 doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
8788 For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
8789 instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
8790 is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
8793 @kindex delete display
8795 @item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
8796 @itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8797 Remove items from the list of expressions to display. Specify the
8798 numbers of the displays that you want affected with the command
8799 argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one of the
8800 numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display} display;
8801 or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8803 @code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
8804 (Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
8806 @kindex disable display
8807 @item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8808 Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
8809 item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
8810 enabled again later. Specify the numbers of the displays that you
8811 want affected with the command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a
8812 single display number, one of the numbers shown in the first field of
8813 the @samp{info display} display; or it could be a range of display
8814 numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8816 @kindex enable display
8817 @item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
8818 Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
8819 again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
8820 Specify the numbers of the displays that you want affected with the
8821 command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one
8822 of the numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display}
8823 display; or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
8826 Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
8827 done when your program stops.
8829 @kindex info display
8831 Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
8832 automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
8833 values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
8834 It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
8835 because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
8838 @cindex display disabled out of scope
8839 If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
8840 sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
8841 expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
8842 variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
8843 @code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
8844 @code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
8845 continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
8846 there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
8847 automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
8848 is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
8850 @node Print Settings
8851 @section Print Settings
8853 @cindex format options
8854 @cindex print settings
8855 @value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
8856 and symbols are printed.
8859 These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
8863 @item set print address
8864 @itemx set print address on
8865 @cindex print/don't print memory addresses
8866 @value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
8867 traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
8868 even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
8869 is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
8870 @code{set print address on}:
8875 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
8877 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
8881 @item set print address off
8882 Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
8883 this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
8887 (@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
8889 #0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
8890 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
8894 You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
8895 dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
8896 @code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
8897 all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
8900 @item show print address
8901 Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
8904 When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
8905 closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
8906 identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
8907 source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
8908 @code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
8909 you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
8910 it prints a symbolic address:
8913 @item set print symbol-filename on
8914 @cindex source file and line of a symbol
8915 @cindex symbol, source file and line
8916 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
8917 symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
8919 @item set print symbol-filename off
8920 Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
8923 @item show print symbol-filename
8924 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
8925 line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
8928 Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
8929 numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
8930 number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
8932 Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
8933 printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
8936 @item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
8937 @itemx set print max-symbolic-offset unlimited
8938 @cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
8939 Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
8940 offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
8941 @var{max-offset}. The default is @code{unlimited}, which tells @value{GDBN}
8942 to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes
8943 it. Zero is equivalent to @code{unlimited}.
8945 @item show print max-symbolic-offset
8946 Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
8950 @cindex wild pointer, interpreting
8951 @cindex pointer, finding referent
8952 If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
8953 @samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
8954 and source file location of the variable where it points, using
8955 @samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
8956 For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
8957 at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
8960 (@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
8961 (@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
8962 $4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
8966 @emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
8967 does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
8968 the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
8971 You can also enable @samp{/a}-like formatting all the time using
8972 @samp{set print symbol on}:
8975 @item set print symbol on
8976 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the symbol corresponding to an address, if
8979 @item set print symbol off
8980 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print the symbol corresponding to an
8981 address. In this mode, @value{GDBN} will still print the symbol
8982 corresponding to pointers to functions. This is the default.
8984 @item show print symbol
8985 Show whether @value{GDBN} will display the symbol corresponding to an
8989 Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
8992 @item set print array
8993 @itemx set print array on
8994 @cindex pretty print arrays
8995 Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
8996 but uses more space. The default is off.
8998 @item set print array off
8999 Return to compressed format for arrays.
9001 @item show print array
9002 Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
9005 @cindex print array indexes
9006 @item set print array-indexes
9007 @itemx set print array-indexes on
9008 Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
9009 convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
9010 index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
9012 @item set print array-indexes off
9013 Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
9015 @item show print array-indexes
9016 Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
9019 @item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
9020 @itemx set print elements unlimited
9021 @cindex number of array elements to print
9022 @cindex limit on number of printed array elements
9023 Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
9024 If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
9025 printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
9026 This limit also applies to the display of strings.
9027 When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
9028 Setting @var{number-of-elements} to @code{unlimited} or zero means
9029 that the number of elements to print is unlimited.
9031 @item show print elements
9032 Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
9033 If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
9035 @item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
9036 @kindex set print frame-arguments
9037 @cindex printing frame argument values
9038 @cindex print all frame argument values
9039 @cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
9040 @cindex do not print frame argument values
9041 This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
9042 when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
9047 The values of all arguments are printed.
9050 Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
9051 complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
9052 by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
9053 only scalar arguments are shown:
9056 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
9061 None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
9062 is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
9065 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
9070 By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
9071 to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
9072 of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
9073 of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
9074 information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
9075 Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
9076 the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
9077 especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
9078 to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
9079 thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
9081 @item show print frame-arguments
9082 Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
9084 @item set print raw frame-arguments on
9085 Print frame arguments in raw, non pretty-printed, form.
9087 @item set print raw frame-arguments off
9088 Print frame arguments in pretty-printed form, if there is a pretty-printer
9089 for the value (@pxref{Pretty Printing}),
9090 otherwise print the value in raw form.
9091 This is the default.
9093 @item show print raw frame-arguments
9094 Show whether to print frame arguments in raw form.
9096 @anchor{set print entry-values}
9097 @item set print entry-values @var{value}
9098 @kindex set print entry-values
9099 Set printing of frame argument values at function entry. In some cases
9100 @value{GDBN} can determine the value of function argument which was passed by
9101 the function caller, even if the value was modified inside the called function
9102 and therefore is different. With optimized code, the current value could be
9103 unavailable, but the entry value may still be known.
9105 The default value is @code{default} (see below for its description). Older
9106 @value{GDBN} behaved as with the setting @code{no}. Compilers not supporting
9107 this feature will behave in the @code{default} setting the same way as with the
9110 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
9111 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
9112 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
9115 The @var{value} parameter can be one of the following:
9119 Print only actual parameter values, never print values from function entry
9123 #0 different (val=6)
9124 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>)
9126 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9130 Print only parameter values from function entry point. The actual parameter
9131 values are never printed.
9133 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
9134 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
9135 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9136 #0 born (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9137 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9141 Print only parameter values from function entry point. If value from function
9142 entry point is not known while the actual value is known, print the actual
9143 value for such parameter.
9145 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
9146 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
9147 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9149 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9153 Print actual parameter values. If actual parameter value is not known while
9154 value from function entry point is known, print the entry point value for such
9158 #0 different (val=6)
9159 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9161 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9165 Always print both the actual parameter value and its value from function entry
9166 point, even if values of one or both are not available due to compiler
9169 #0 equal (val=5, val@@entry=5)
9170 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9171 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
9172 #0 born (val=10, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9173 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9177 Print the actual parameter value if it is known and also its value from
9178 function entry point if it is known. If neither is known, print for the actual
9179 value @code{<optimized out>}. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and if both
9180 values are known and identical, print the shortened
9181 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
9183 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
9184 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9185 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9187 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9191 Always print the actual parameter value. Print also its value from function
9192 entry point, but only if it is known. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and
9193 if both values are known and identical, print the shortened
9194 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
9196 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
9197 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9198 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
9200 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9204 For analysis messages on possible failures of frame argument values at function
9205 entry resolution see @ref{set debug entry-values}.
9207 @item show print entry-values
9208 Show the method being used for printing of frame argument values at function
9211 @item set print repeats @var{number-of-repeats}
9212 @itemx set print repeats unlimited
9213 @cindex repeated array elements
9214 Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
9215 elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
9216 array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
9217 @code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
9218 identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
9219 themselves. Setting the threshold to @code{unlimited} or zero will
9220 cause all elements to be individually printed. The default threshold
9223 @item show print repeats
9224 Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
9227 @item set print null-stop
9228 @cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
9229 Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
9230 @sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
9231 contain only short strings.
9234 @item show print null-stop
9235 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
9236 @sc{null} character.
9238 @item set print pretty on
9239 @cindex print structures in indented form
9240 @cindex indentation in structure display
9241 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
9242 per line, like this:
9257 @item set print pretty off
9258 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
9262 $1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
9263 meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
9268 This is the default format.
9270 @item show print pretty
9271 Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
9273 @item set print sevenbit-strings on
9274 @cindex eight-bit characters in strings
9275 @cindex octal escapes in strings
9276 Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
9277 @value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
9278 character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
9279 best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
9280 high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
9282 @item set print sevenbit-strings off
9283 Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
9284 international character sets, and is the default.
9286 @item show print sevenbit-strings
9287 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
9289 @item set print union on
9290 @cindex unions in structures, printing
9291 Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
9292 and other unions. This is the default setting.
9294 @item set print union off
9295 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
9296 structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
9299 @item show print union
9300 Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
9301 structures and other unions.
9303 For example, given the declarations
9306 typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
9307 typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
9308 typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
9319 struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
9323 with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
9326 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
9330 and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
9333 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
9337 @code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
9343 These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
9346 @cindex demangling C@t{++} names
9347 @item set print demangle
9348 @itemx set print demangle on
9349 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
9350 (``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
9351 linkage. The default is on.
9353 @item show print demangle
9354 Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
9356 @item set print asm-demangle
9357 @itemx set print asm-demangle on
9358 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
9359 in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
9362 @item show print asm-demangle
9363 Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
9366 @cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
9367 @cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
9368 @kindex set demangle-style
9369 @item set demangle-style @var{style}
9370 Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
9371 represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
9375 Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
9376 This is the default.
9379 Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
9382 Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
9385 Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
9388 Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
9389 @strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
9390 debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
9391 require further enhancement to permit that.
9394 If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
9396 @item show demangle-style
9397 Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
9399 @item set print object
9400 @itemx set print object on
9401 @cindex derived type of an object, printing
9402 @cindex display derived types
9403 When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
9404 (derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
9405 the virtual function table. Note that the virtual function table is
9406 required---this feature can only work for objects that have run-time
9407 type identification; a single virtual method in the object's declared
9408 type is sufficient. Note that this setting is also taken into account when
9409 working with variable objects via MI (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
9411 @item set print object off
9412 Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
9413 virtual function table. This is the default setting.
9415 @item show print object
9416 Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
9418 @item set print static-members
9419 @itemx set print static-members on
9420 @cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
9421 Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
9423 @item set print static-members off
9424 Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
9426 @item show print static-members
9427 Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
9429 @item set print pascal_static-members
9430 @itemx set print pascal_static-members on
9431 @cindex static members of Pascal objects
9432 @cindex Pascal objects, static members display
9433 Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
9435 @item set print pascal_static-members off
9436 Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
9438 @item show print pascal_static-members
9439 Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
9441 @c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
9442 @item set print vtbl
9443 @itemx set print vtbl on
9444 @cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
9445 @cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
9446 @cindex VTBL display
9447 Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
9448 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
9449 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
9451 @item set print vtbl off
9452 Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
9454 @item show print vtbl
9455 Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
9458 @node Pretty Printing
9459 @section Pretty Printing
9461 @value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values using
9462 Python code. It greatly simplifies the display of complex objects. This
9463 mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
9466 * Pretty-Printer Introduction:: Introduction to pretty-printers
9467 * Pretty-Printer Example:: An example pretty-printer
9468 * Pretty-Printer Commands:: Pretty-printer commands
9471 @node Pretty-Printer Introduction
9472 @subsection Pretty-Printer Introduction
9474 When @value{GDBN} prints a value, it first sees if there is a pretty-printer
9475 registered for the value. If there is then @value{GDBN} invokes the
9476 pretty-printer to print the value. Otherwise the value is printed normally.
9478 Pretty-printers are normally named. This makes them easy to manage.
9479 The @samp{info pretty-printer} command will list all the installed
9480 pretty-printers with their names.
9481 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
9482 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
9483 Each such subprinter has its own name.
9484 The format of the name is @var{printer-name};@var{subprinter-name}.
9486 Pretty-printers are installed by @dfn{registering} them with @value{GDBN}.
9487 Typically they are automatically loaded and registered when the corresponding
9488 debug information is loaded, thus making them available without having to
9489 do anything special.
9491 There are three places where a pretty-printer can be registered.
9495 Pretty-printers registered globally are available when debugging
9499 Pretty-printers registered with a program space are available only
9500 when debugging that program.
9501 @xref{Progspaces In Python}, for more details on program spaces in Python.
9504 Pretty-printers registered with an objfile are loaded and unloaded
9505 with the corresponding objfile (e.g., shared library).
9506 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for more details on objfiles in Python.
9509 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for further information on how
9510 pretty-printers are selected,
9512 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for implementing pretty printers
9515 @node Pretty-Printer Example
9516 @subsection Pretty-Printer Example
9518 Here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a pretty-printer:
9521 (@value{GDBP}) print s
9523 static npos = 4294967295,
9525 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
9526 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{
9527 <No data fields>@}, <No data fields>
9529 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>,
9530 std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
9531 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
9536 With a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} only the contents are printed:
9539 (@value{GDBP}) print s
9543 @node Pretty-Printer Commands
9544 @subsection Pretty-Printer Commands
9545 @cindex pretty-printer commands
9548 @kindex info pretty-printer
9549 @item info pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9550 Print the list of installed pretty-printers.
9551 This includes disabled pretty-printers, which are marked as such.
9553 @var{object-regexp} is a regular expression matching the objects
9554 whose pretty-printers to list.
9555 Objects can be @code{global}, the program space's file
9556 (@pxref{Progspaces In Python}),
9557 and the object files within that program space (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}).
9558 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for details on how @value{GDBN}
9559 looks up a printer from these three objects.
9561 @var{name-regexp} is a regular expression matching the name of the printers
9564 @kindex disable pretty-printer
9565 @item disable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9566 Disable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
9567 A disabled pretty-printer is not forgotten, it may be enabled again later.
9569 @kindex enable pretty-printer
9570 @item enable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
9571 Enable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
9576 Suppose we have three pretty-printers installed: one from library1.so
9577 named @code{foo} that prints objects of type @code{foo}, and
9578 another from library2.so named @code{bar} that prints two types of objects,
9579 @code{bar1} and @code{bar2}.
9582 (gdb) info pretty-printer
9589 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9594 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library1
9596 2 of 3 printers enabled
9597 (gdb) info pretty-printer
9604 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar:bar1
9606 1 of 3 printers enabled
9607 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9614 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar
9616 0 of 3 printers enabled
9617 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
9626 Note that for @code{bar} the entire printer can be disabled,
9627 as can each individual subprinter.
9630 @section Value History
9632 @cindex value history
9633 @cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
9634 Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
9635 @dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
9636 Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
9637 (for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
9638 When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
9639 since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
9644 @cindex history number
9645 The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
9646 refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
9647 @code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
9648 printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
9651 To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
9652 history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
9653 remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
9654 the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
9655 @code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
9656 is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
9657 @code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
9659 For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
9660 want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
9666 If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
9667 to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
9674 You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
9675 command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
9677 Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
9678 @code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
9686 then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
9687 remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
9692 Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
9693 This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
9694 values} does not change the history.
9696 @item show values @var{n}
9697 Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
9700 Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
9701 values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
9704 Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
9705 same effect as @samp{show values +}.
9707 @node Convenience Vars
9708 @section Convenience Variables
9710 @cindex convenience variables
9711 @cindex user-defined variables
9712 @value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
9713 @value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
9714 exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
9715 setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
9716 of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
9718 Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
9719 @samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
9720 the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
9721 (Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
9722 by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
9724 You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
9725 expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
9729 set $foo = *object_ptr
9733 would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
9736 Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
9737 value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
9738 value with another assignment at any time.
9740 Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
9741 variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
9742 that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
9743 variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
9746 @kindex show convenience
9747 @cindex show all user variables and functions
9748 @item show convenience
9749 Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values,
9750 as well as a list of the convenience functions.
9751 Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
9753 @kindex init-if-undefined
9754 @cindex convenience variables, initializing
9755 @item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
9756 Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
9757 for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
9758 to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
9759 convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
9760 override default values used in a command script.
9762 If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
9763 any side-effects do not occur.
9766 One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
9767 incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
9768 a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
9772 print bar[$i++]->contents
9776 Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
9778 Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
9779 values likely to be useful.
9782 @vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
9784 The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
9785 the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
9786 commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
9787 set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
9788 and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
9789 except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
9790 to the type of @code{$__}.
9792 @vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
9794 The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
9795 to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
9796 to match the format in which the data was printed.
9799 @vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
9800 When the program being debugged terminates normally, @value{GDBN}
9801 automatically sets this variable to the exit code of the program, and
9802 resets @code{$_exitsignal} to @code{void}.
9805 @vindex $_exitsignal@r{, convenience variable}
9806 When the program being debugged dies due to an uncaught signal,
9807 @value{GDBN} automatically sets this variable to that signal's number,
9808 and resets @code{$_exitcode} to @code{void}.
9810 To distinguish between whether the program being debugged has exited
9811 (i.e., @code{$_exitcode} is not @code{void}) or signalled (i.e.,
9812 @code{$_exitsignal} is not @code{void}), the convenience function
9813 @code{$_isvoid} can be used (@pxref{Convenience Funs,, Convenience
9814 Functions}). For example, considering the following source code:
9820 main (int argc, char *argv[])
9827 A valid way of telling whether the program being debugged has exited
9828 or signalled would be:
9831 (@value{GDBP}) define has_exited_or_signalled
9832 Type commands for definition of ``has_exited_or_signalled''.
9833 End with a line saying just ``end''.
9834 >if $_isvoid ($_exitsignal)
9835 >echo The program has exited\n
9837 >echo The program has signalled\n
9843 Program terminated with signal SIGALRM, Alarm clock.
9844 The program no longer exists.
9845 (@value{GDBP}) has_exited_or_signalled
9846 The program has signalled
9849 As can be seen, @value{GDBN} correctly informs that the program being
9850 debugged has signalled, since it calls @code{raise} and raises a
9851 @code{SIGALRM} signal. If the program being debugged had not called
9852 @code{raise}, then @value{GDBN} would report a normal exit:
9855 (@value{GDBP}) has_exited_or_signalled
9856 The program has exited
9860 The variable @code{$_exception} is set to the exception object being
9861 thrown at an exception-related catchpoint. @xref{Set Catchpoints}.
9864 @itemx $_probe_arg0@dots{}$_probe_arg11
9865 Arguments to a static probe. @xref{Static Probe Points}.
9868 @vindex $_sdata@r{, inspect, convenience variable}
9869 The variable @code{$_sdata} contains extra collected static tracepoint
9870 data. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}. Note that
9871 @code{$_sdata} could be empty, if not inspecting a trace buffer, or
9872 if extra static tracepoint data has not been collected.
9875 @vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
9876 The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
9877 (@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
9878 could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
9879 For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
9882 @vindex $_tlb@r{, convenience variable}
9883 The variable @code{$_tlb} is automatically set when debugging
9884 applications running on MS-Windows in native mode or connected to
9885 gdbserver that supports the @code{qGetTIBAddr} request.
9886 @xref{General Query Packets}.
9887 This variable contains the address of the thread information block.
9891 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
9892 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
9893 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
9895 @node Convenience Funs
9896 @section Convenience Functions
9898 @cindex convenience functions
9899 @value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
9900 have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
9901 function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
9902 however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
9905 These functions do not require @value{GDBN} to be configured with
9906 @code{Python} support, which means that they are always available.
9910 @item $_isvoid (@var{expr})
9911 @findex $_isvoid@r{, convenience function}
9912 Return one if the expression @var{expr} is @code{void}. Otherwise it
9915 A @code{void} expression is an expression where the type of the result
9916 is @code{void}. For example, you can examine a convenience variable
9917 (see @ref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}) to check whether
9921 (@value{GDBP}) print $_exitcode
9923 (@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid ($_exitcode)
9926 Starting program: ./a.out
9927 [Inferior 1 (process 29572) exited normally]
9928 (@value{GDBP}) print $_exitcode
9930 (@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid ($_exitcode)
9934 In the example above, we used @code{$_isvoid} to check whether
9935 @code{$_exitcode} is @code{void} before and after the execution of the
9936 program being debugged. Before the execution there is no exit code to
9937 be examined, therefore @code{$_exitcode} is @code{void}. After the
9938 execution the program being debugged returned zero, therefore
9939 @code{$_exitcode} is zero, which means that it is not @code{void}
9942 The @code{void} expression can also be a call of a function from the
9943 program being debugged. For example, given the following function:
9952 The result of calling it inside @value{GDBN} is @code{void}:
9955 (@value{GDBP}) print foo ()
9957 (@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid (foo ())
9959 (@value{GDBP}) set $v = foo ()
9960 (@value{GDBP}) print $v
9962 (@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid ($v)
9968 These functions require @value{GDBN} to be configured with
9969 @code{Python} support.
9973 @item $_memeq(@var{buf1}, @var{buf2}, @var{length})
9974 @findex $_memeq@r{, convenience function}
9975 Returns one if the @var{length} bytes at the addresses given by
9976 @var{buf1} and @var{buf2} are equal.
9977 Otherwise it returns zero.
9979 @item $_regex(@var{str}, @var{regex})
9980 @findex $_regex@r{, convenience function}
9981 Returns one if the string @var{str} matches the regular expression
9982 @var{regex}. Otherwise it returns zero.
9983 The syntax of the regular expression is that specified by @code{Python}'s
9984 regular expression support.
9986 @item $_streq(@var{str1}, @var{str2})
9987 @findex $_streq@r{, convenience function}
9988 Returns one if the strings @var{str1} and @var{str2} are equal.
9989 Otherwise it returns zero.
9991 @item $_strlen(@var{str})
9992 @findex $_strlen@r{, convenience function}
9993 Returns the length of string @var{str}.
9997 @value{GDBN} provides the ability to list and get help on
9998 convenience functions.
10001 @item help function
10002 @kindex help function
10003 @cindex show all convenience functions
10004 Print a list of all convenience functions.
10011 You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
10012 with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
10013 for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
10017 @kindex info registers
10018 @item info registers
10019 Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
10020 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
10022 @kindex info all-registers
10023 @cindex floating point registers
10024 @item info all-registers
10025 Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
10026 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
10028 @item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
10029 Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
10030 As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
10031 the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
10032 the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
10035 @cindex stack pointer register
10036 @cindex program counter register
10037 @cindex process status register
10038 @cindex frame pointer register
10039 @cindex standard registers
10040 @value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
10041 expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
10042 architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
10043 @code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
10044 the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
10045 pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
10046 register that contains the processor status. For example,
10047 you could print the program counter in hex with
10054 or print the instruction to be executed next with
10061 or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
10062 one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
10063 memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
10064 stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
10065 stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
10066 regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
10067 see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
10073 Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
10074 your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
10075 so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
10076 shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
10077 registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
10078 can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
10079 is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
10081 @value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
10082 integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
10083 special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
10084 registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
10085 to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
10086 (although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
10087 @samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
10089 Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
10090 means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
10091 the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
10092 sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
10093 coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
10094 programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
10095 cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
10096 that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
10097 prints the data in both formats.
10099 @cindex SSE registers (x86)
10100 @cindex MMX registers (x86)
10101 Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
10102 in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
10103 have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
10104 together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
10105 registers in @code{struct} notation:
10108 (@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
10110 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
10111 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
10112 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
10113 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
10114 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
10115 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
10116 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
10121 To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
10122 view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
10123 value to a @code{struct} member:
10126 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
10129 Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
10130 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
10131 value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
10132 were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
10133 true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
10134 frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
10136 @cindex caller-saved registers
10137 @cindex call-clobbered registers
10138 @cindex volatile registers
10139 @cindex <not saved> values
10140 Usually ABIs reserve some registers as not needed to be saved by the
10141 callee (a.k.a.: ``caller-saved'', ``call-clobbered'' or ``volatile''
10142 registers). It may therefore not be possible for @value{GDBN} to know
10143 the value a register had before the call (in other words, in the outer
10144 frame), if the register value has since been changed by the callee.
10145 @value{GDBN} tries to deduce where the inner frame saved
10146 (``callee-saved'') registers, from the debug info, unwind info, or the
10147 machine code generated by your compiler. If some register is not
10148 saved, and @value{GDBN} knows the register is ``caller-saved'' (via
10149 its own knowledge of the ABI, or because the debug/unwind info
10150 explicitly says the register's value is undefined), @value{GDBN}
10151 displays @w{@samp{<not saved>}} as the register's value. With targets
10152 that @value{GDBN} has no knowledge of the register saving convention,
10153 if a register was not saved by the callee, then its value and location
10154 in the outer frame are assumed to be the same of the inner frame.
10155 This is usually harmless, because if the register is call-clobbered,
10156 the caller either does not care what is in the register after the
10157 call, or has code to restore the value that it does care about. Note,
10158 however, that if you change such a register in the outer frame, you
10159 may also be affecting the inner frame. Also, the more ``outer'' the
10160 frame is you're looking at, the more likely a call-clobbered
10161 register's value is to be wrong, in the sense that it doesn't actually
10162 represent the value the register had just before the call.
10164 @node Floating Point Hardware
10165 @section Floating Point Hardware
10166 @cindex floating point
10168 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
10169 you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
10174 Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
10175 point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
10176 floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
10177 the ARM and x86 machines.
10181 @section Vector Unit
10182 @cindex vector unit
10184 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
10185 more information about the status of the vector unit.
10188 @kindex info vector
10190 Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
10191 layout vary depending on the hardware.
10194 @node OS Information
10195 @section Operating System Auxiliary Information
10196 @cindex OS information
10198 @value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
10199 you debug your program.
10201 @cindex auxiliary vector
10202 @cindex vector, auxiliary
10203 Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
10204 startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
10205 specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
10206 binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
10207 hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
10208 identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
10209 Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
10210 @value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
10211 targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
10212 support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
10213 @ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
10218 Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
10219 live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
10220 numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
10221 tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
10222 pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
10223 most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
10224 an unrecognized tag.
10227 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating system-specific
10228 information and show it to you. The types of information available
10229 will differ depending on the type of operating system running on the
10230 target. The mechanism used to fetch the data is described in
10231 @ref{Operating System Information}. For remote targets, this
10232 functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
10233 @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
10237 @item info os @var{infotype}
10239 Display OS information of the requested type.
10241 On @sc{gnu}/Linux, the following values of @var{infotype} are valid:
10243 @anchor{linux info os infotypes}
10245 @kindex info os processes
10247 Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
10248 @value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, the
10249 command corresponding to the process, and the list of processor cores
10250 that the process is currently running on. (To understand what these
10251 properties mean, for this and the following info types, please consult
10252 the general @sc{gnu}/Linux documentation.)
10254 @kindex info os procgroups
10256 Display the list of process groups on the target. For each process,
10257 @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process group that it belongs
10258 to, the command corresponding to the process group leader, the process
10259 identifier, and the command line of the process. The list is sorted
10260 first by the process group identifier, then by the process identifier,
10261 so that processes belonging to the same process group are grouped together
10262 and the process group leader is listed first.
10264 @kindex info os threads
10266 Display the list of threads running on the target. For each thread,
10267 @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process that the thread
10268 belongs to, the command of the process, the thread identifier, and the
10269 processor core that it is currently running on. The main thread of a
10270 process is not listed.
10272 @kindex info os files
10274 Display the list of open file descriptors on the target. For each
10275 file descriptor, @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process
10276 owning the descriptor, the command of the owning process, the value
10277 of the descriptor, and the target of the descriptor.
10279 @kindex info os sockets
10281 Display the list of Internet-domain sockets on the target. For each
10282 socket, @value{GDBN} prints the address and port of the local and
10283 remote endpoints, the current state of the connection, the creator of
10284 the socket, the IP address family of the socket, and the type of the
10287 @kindex info os shm
10289 Display the list of all System V shared-memory regions on the target.
10290 For each shared-memory region, @value{GDBN} prints the region key,
10291 the shared-memory identifier, the access permissions, the size of the
10292 region, the process that created the region, the process that last
10293 attached to or detached from the region, the current number of live
10294 attaches to the region, and the times at which the region was last
10295 attached to, detach from, and changed.
10297 @kindex info os semaphores
10299 Display the list of all System V semaphore sets on the target. For each
10300 semaphore set, @value{GDBN} prints the semaphore set key, the semaphore
10301 set identifier, the access permissions, the number of semaphores in the
10302 set, the user and group of the owner and creator of the semaphore set,
10303 and the times at which the semaphore set was operated upon and changed.
10305 @kindex info os msg
10307 Display the list of all System V message queues on the target. For each
10308 message queue, @value{GDBN} prints the message queue key, the message
10309 queue identifier, the access permissions, the current number of bytes
10310 on the queue, the current number of messages on the queue, the processes
10311 that last sent and received a message on the queue, the user and group
10312 of the owner and creator of the message queue, the times at which a
10313 message was last sent and received on the queue, and the time at which
10314 the message queue was last changed.
10316 @kindex info os modules
10318 Display the list of all loaded kernel modules on the target. For each
10319 module, @value{GDBN} prints the module name, the size of the module in
10320 bytes, the number of times the module is used, the dependencies of the
10321 module, the status of the module, and the address of the loaded module
10326 If @var{infotype} is omitted, then list the possible values for
10327 @var{infotype} and the kind of OS information available for each
10328 @var{infotype}. If the target does not return a list of possible
10329 types, this command will report an error.
10332 @node Memory Region Attributes
10333 @section Memory Region Attributes
10334 @cindex memory region attributes
10336 @dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
10337 required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
10338 attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
10339 accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
10340 target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
10341 fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
10342 user can override the fetched regions.
10344 Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
10345 memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
10346 accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
10347 been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
10350 When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
10351 to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
10355 @item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
10356 Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
10357 attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
10358 monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
10359 case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
10360 (0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
10363 Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
10364 regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
10367 @item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
10368 Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
10369 monitored by @value{GDBN}.
10371 @kindex disable mem
10372 @item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
10373 Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
10374 A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
10375 It may be enabled again later.
10378 @item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
10379 Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
10383 Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
10387 @item Memory Region Number
10388 @item Enabled or Disabled.
10389 Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
10390 Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
10393 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
10396 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
10399 The list of attributes set for this memory region.
10404 @subsection Attributes
10406 @subsubsection Memory Access Mode
10407 The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
10408 write accesses to a memory region.
10410 While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
10411 memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
10412 etc.@: from accessing memory.
10416 Memory is read only.
10418 Memory is write only.
10420 Memory is read/write. This is the default.
10423 @subsubsection Memory Access Size
10424 The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
10425 accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
10426 require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
10427 specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
10431 Use 8 bit memory accesses.
10433 Use 16 bit memory accesses.
10435 Use 32 bit memory accesses.
10437 Use 64 bit memory accesses.
10440 @c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
10441 @c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
10442 @c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
10443 @c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
10447 @c Always use hardware breakpoints
10448 @c @item swbreak (default)
10451 @subsubsection Data Cache
10452 The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
10453 memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
10454 protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
10455 does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
10460 Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
10462 Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
10465 @subsection Memory Access Checking
10466 @value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
10467 not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
10468 regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
10469 better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
10472 @kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
10473 @item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
10474 If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
10475 explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
10476 to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
10477 memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
10478 treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
10479 The default value is @code{on}.
10480 @kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
10481 @item show mem inaccessible-by-default
10482 Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
10486 @c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
10487 @c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
10488 @c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
10492 @c @item noverify (default)
10495 @node Dump/Restore Files
10496 @section Copy Between Memory and a File
10497 @cindex dump/restore files
10498 @cindex append data to a file
10499 @cindex dump data to a file
10500 @cindex restore data from a file
10502 You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
10503 @code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
10504 @code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
10505 @code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
10506 memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
10507 Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
10513 @item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
10514 @itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
10515 Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
10516 or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
10518 The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
10525 Motorola S-record format.
10527 Tektronix Hex format.
10530 @value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
10531 @sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
10532 @var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
10536 @item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
10537 @itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
10538 Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
10539 or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
10540 (@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
10543 @item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
10544 Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
10545 @code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
10546 file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
10547 must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
10549 If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
10550 contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
10551 they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
10552 a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
10553 from that location.
10555 If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
10556 file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
10557 These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
10558 the @var{bias} argument is applied.
10562 @node Core File Generation
10563 @section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
10564 @cindex dump core from inferior
10566 A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
10567 image of a running process and its process status (register values
10568 etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
10569 crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
10570 automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
10571 the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
10572 the post-mortem debugging mode.
10574 Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
10575 are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
10576 @value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
10580 @kindex generate-core-file
10581 @item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
10582 @itemx gcore [@var{file}]
10583 Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
10584 @var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
10585 specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
10586 @var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
10588 Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
10589 this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, and S390).
10592 @node Character Sets
10593 @section Character Sets
10594 @cindex character sets
10596 @cindex translating between character sets
10597 @cindex host character set
10598 @cindex target character set
10600 If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
10601 represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
10602 @value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
10603 you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
10604 character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
10605 @dfn{target character set}.
10607 For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
10608 uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
10609 remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
10610 running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
10611 then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
10612 @sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
10613 target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
10614 @sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
10615 character and string literals in expressions.
10617 @value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
10618 the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
10619 target-charset} command, described below.
10621 Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
10625 @item set target-charset @var{charset}
10626 @kindex set target-charset
10627 Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
10628 list of supported target character sets, type
10629 @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
10631 @item set host-charset @var{charset}
10632 @kindex set host-charset
10633 Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
10635 By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
10636 system it is running on; you can override that default using the
10637 @code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
10638 automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
10639 case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
10641 @value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
10642 set. If you type @kbd{@w{set host-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
10643 @value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
10645 @item set charset @var{charset}
10646 @kindex set charset
10647 Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
10648 above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
10649 @value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
10650 for both host and target.
10653 @kindex show charset
10654 Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
10656 @item show host-charset
10657 @kindex show host-charset
10658 Show the name of the current host character set.
10660 @item show target-charset
10661 @kindex show target-charset
10662 Show the name of the current target character set.
10664 @item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
10665 @kindex set target-wide-charset
10666 Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
10667 the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
10668 display the list of supported wide character sets, type
10669 @kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
10671 @item show target-wide-charset
10672 @kindex show target-wide-charset
10673 Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
10676 Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
10677 Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
10678 @file{charset-test.c}:
10684 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
10685 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
10686 char ibm1047_hello[]
10687 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
10688 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
10692 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10696 In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
10697 containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
10698 encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
10700 We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
10703 $ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
10704 $ gdb -nw charset-test
10705 GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
10706 Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
10711 We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
10712 @value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
10716 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10717 The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
10721 For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
10722 initial character set:
10724 (@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
10725 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10726 The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
10730 Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
10731 host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
10732 characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
10733 them properly. Since our current target character set is also
10734 @sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
10737 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
10738 $1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
10739 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
10744 @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
10745 literals you use in expressions:
10748 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
10753 The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
10756 @value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
10757 target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
10758 character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
10761 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
10762 $4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
10763 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
10768 If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
10769 @value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
10772 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
10773 ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
10774 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
10777 We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
10778 program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
10779 @value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
10780 target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
10781 @sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
10784 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
10785 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
10786 The current host character set is `ASCII'.
10787 The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
10788 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
10789 $6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
10790 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
10792 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
10793 $8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
10794 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
10799 As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
10800 string literals you use in expressions:
10803 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
10808 The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
10811 @node Caching Remote Data
10812 @section Caching Data of Remote Targets
10813 @cindex caching data of remote targets
10815 @value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a
10816 remote target (@pxref{Remote Debugging}). Such caching generally improves
10817 performance, because it reduces the overhead of the remote protocol by
10818 bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks. Unfortunately, simply
10819 caching everything would lead to incorrect results, since @value{GDBN}
10820 does not necessarily know anything about volatile values, memory-mapped I/O
10821 addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode})
10822 memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command is executing.
10823 Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
10824 known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
10825 rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
10826 in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
10827 stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.}.
10828 Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
10829 cacheable; see @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
10832 @kindex set remotecache
10833 @item set remotecache on
10834 @itemx set remotecache off
10835 This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
10838 @kindex show remotecache
10839 @item show remotecache
10840 Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
10842 @kindex set stack-cache
10843 @item set stack-cache on
10844 @itemx set stack-cache off
10845 Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{ON}, use
10846 caching. By default, this option is @code{ON}.
10848 @kindex show stack-cache
10849 @item show stack-cache
10850 Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
10852 @kindex info dcache
10853 @item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
10854 Print the information about the data cache performance. The
10855 information displayed includes the dcache width and depth, and for
10856 each cache line, its number, address, and how many times it was
10857 referenced. This command is useful for debugging the data cache
10860 If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
10863 @item set dcache size @var{size}
10864 @cindex dcache size
10865 @kindex set dcache size
10866 Set maximum number of entries in dcache (dcache depth above).
10868 @item set dcache line-size @var{line-size}
10869 @cindex dcache line-size
10870 @kindex set dcache line-size
10871 Set number of bytes each dcache entry caches (dcache width above).
10872 Must be a power of 2.
10874 @item show dcache size
10875 @kindex show dcache size
10876 Show maximum number of dcache entries. See also @ref{Caching Remote Data, info dcache}.
10878 @item show dcache line-size
10879 @kindex show dcache line-size
10880 Show default size of dcache lines. See also @ref{Caching Remote Data, info dcache}.
10884 @node Searching Memory
10885 @section Search Memory
10886 @cindex searching memory
10888 Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
10889 @code{find} command.
10893 @item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
10894 @itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
10895 Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
10896 etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
10897 @var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
10900 @var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
10901 They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
10904 @item @var{s}, search query size
10905 The size of each search query value.
10911 halfwords (two bytes)
10915 giant words (eight bytes)
10918 All values are interpreted in the current language.
10919 This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
10920 then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
10922 If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
10923 value's type in the current language.
10924 This is useful when one wants to specify the search
10925 pattern as a mixture of types.
10926 Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
10927 a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
10928 which is typically four bytes.
10930 @item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
10931 The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
10934 You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
10936 The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
10937 regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
10939 The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
10940 number of matches found.
10942 The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
10944 A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
10946 For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
10952 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
10953 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
10954 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
10955 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
10956 printf ("%s\n", hello);
10961 you get during debugging:
10964 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
10965 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
10967 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
10968 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
10969 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
10971 (gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
10972 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
10974 (gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
10975 0x8049560 <mixed.1625>
10977 (gdb) print $numfound
10980 $2 = (void *) 0x8049560
10983 @node Optimized Code
10984 @chapter Debugging Optimized Code
10985 @cindex optimized code, debugging
10986 @cindex debugging optimized code
10988 Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
10989 disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
10990 directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
10991 applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
10992 diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
10993 information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
10994 the running program back to constructs from your original source.
10996 @value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
10997 can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
10998 progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
10999 where you may need to debug an optimized version.
11001 When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
11002 optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
11003 really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
11004 exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
11005 variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
11006 variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
11008 Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
11009 @samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
11010 doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
11011 please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
11012 @xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
11015 * Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
11016 * Tail Call Frames:: @value{GDBN} analysis of jumps to functions
11019 @node Inline Functions
11020 @section Inline Functions
11021 @cindex inline functions, debugging
11023 @dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
11024 body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
11025 routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
11026 non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
11027 arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
11028 them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
11029 You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
11030 @code{info frame} command.
11032 For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
11033 record information about inlining in the debug information ---
11034 @value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
11035 other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
11036 when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
11037 do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
11038 @samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
11039 function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
11040 displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
11041 local variables in the caller.
11043 The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
11044 unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
11045 the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
11046 start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
11047 the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
11048 the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
11049 instructions are executed.
11051 This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
11052 context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
11053 a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
11054 this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
11056 There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
11057 function calls are the same as normal calls:
11061 Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
11062 work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
11063 may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
11064 function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
11065 version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
11066 or inside the inlined function instead.
11069 @value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
11070 using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
11071 debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
11072 and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
11076 @node Tail Call Frames
11077 @section Tail Call Frames
11078 @cindex tail call frames, debugging
11080 Function @code{B} can call function @code{C} in its very last statement. In
11081 unoptimized compilation the call of @code{C} is immediately followed by return
11082 instruction at the end of @code{B} code. Optimizing compiler may replace the
11083 call and return in function @code{B} into one jump to function @code{C}
11084 instead. Such use of a jump instruction is called @dfn{tail call}.
11086 During execution of function @code{C}, there will be no indication in the
11087 function call stack frames that it was tail-called from @code{B}. If function
11088 @code{A} regularly calls function @code{B} which tail-calls function @code{C},
11089 then @value{GDBN} will see @code{A} as the caller of @code{C}. However, in
11090 some cases @value{GDBN} can determine that @code{C} was tail-called from
11091 @code{B}, and it will then create fictitious call frame for that, with the
11092 return address set up as if @code{B} called @code{C} normally.
11094 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
11095 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
11096 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
11099 @kbd{info frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info}) will indicate the tail call frame
11100 kind by text @code{tail call frame} such as in this sample @value{GDBN} output:
11104 0x40066b <b(int, double)+11>: jmp 0x400640 <c(int, double)>
11106 Stack level 1, frame at 0x7fffffffda30:
11107 rip = 0x40066d in b (amd64-entry-value.cc:59); saved rip 0x4004c5
11108 tail call frame, caller of frame at 0x7fffffffda30
11109 source language c++.
11110 Arglist at unknown address.
11111 Locals at unknown address, Previous frame's sp is 0x7fffffffda30
11114 The detection of all the possible code path executions can find them ambiguous.
11115 There is no execution history stored (possible @ref{Reverse Execution} is never
11116 used for this purpose) and the last known caller could have reached the known
11117 callee by multiple different jump sequences. In such case @value{GDBN} still
11118 tries to show at least all the unambiguous top tail callers and all the
11119 unambiguous bottom tail calees, if any.
11122 @anchor{set debug entry-values}
11123 @item set debug entry-values
11124 @kindex set debug entry-values
11125 When set to on, enables printing of analysis messages for both frame argument
11126 values at function entry and tail calls. It will show all the possible valid
11127 tail calls code paths it has considered. It will also print the intersection
11128 of them with the final unambiguous (possibly partial or even empty) code path
11131 @item show debug entry-values
11132 @kindex show debug entry-values
11133 Show the current state of analysis messages printing for both frame argument
11134 values at function entry and tail calls.
11137 The analysis messages for tail calls can for example show why the virtual tail
11138 call frame for function @code{c} has not been recognized (due to the indirect
11139 reference by variable @code{x}):
11142 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void);
11143 void (*x) (void) = c;
11144 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
11145 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ a (); @}
11146 int main (void) @{ x (); return 0; @}
11148 Breakpoint 1, DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving cannot find
11149 DW_TAG_GNU_call_site 0x40039a in main
11151 3 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
11154 #1 0x000000000040039a in main () at t.c:5
11157 Another possibility is an ambiguous virtual tail call frames resolution:
11161 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) f (void) @{ i++; @}
11162 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) e (void) @{ f (); @}
11163 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) d (void) @{ f (); @}
11164 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ d (); @}
11165 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (void)
11166 @{ if (i) c (); else e (); @}
11167 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ b (); @}
11168 int main (void) @{ a (); return 0; @}
11170 tailcall: initial: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004ce(b) 0x4004b2(c) 0x4004a2(d)
11171 tailcall: compare: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004cc(b) 0x400492(e)
11172 tailcall: reduced: 0x4004d2(a) |
11175 #1 0x00000000004004d2 in a () at t.c:8
11176 #2 0x0000000000400395 in main () at t.c:9
11179 @set CALLSEQ1A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}c@value{ARROW}d@value{ARROW}f}
11180 @set CALLSEQ2A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}e@value{ARROW}f}
11182 @c Convert CALLSEQ#A to CALLSEQ#B depending on HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK.
11183 @ifset HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
11184 @set ARROW @click{}
11185 @set CALLSEQ1B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ1A}}
11186 @set CALLSEQ2B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ2A}}
11188 @ifclear HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
11190 @set CALLSEQ1B @value{CALLSEQ1A}
11191 @set CALLSEQ2B @value{CALLSEQ2A}
11194 Frames #0 and #2 are real, #1 is a virtual tail call frame.
11195 The code can have possible execution paths @value{CALLSEQ1B} or
11196 @value{CALLSEQ2B}, @value{GDBN} cannot find which one from the inferior state.
11198 @code{initial:} state shows some random possible calling sequence @value{GDBN}
11199 has found. It then finds another possible calling sequcen - that one is
11200 prefixed by @code{compare:}. The non-ambiguous intersection of these two is
11201 printed as the @code{reduced:} calling sequence. That one could have many
11202 futher @code{compare:} and @code{reduced:} statements as long as there remain
11203 any non-ambiguous sequence entries.
11205 For the frame of function @code{b} in both cases there are different possible
11206 @code{$pc} values (@code{0x4004cc} or @code{0x4004ce}), therefore this frame is
11207 also ambigous. The only non-ambiguous frame is the one for function @code{a},
11208 therefore this one is displayed to the user while the ambiguous frames are
11211 There can be also reasons why printing of frame argument values at function
11216 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (int i) @{ v++; @}
11217 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i);
11218 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (int i) @{ a (i); @}
11219 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i)
11220 @{ if (i) b (i - 1); else c (0); @}
11221 int main (void) @{ a (5); return 0; @}
11224 #0 c (i=i@@entry=0) at t.c:2
11225 #1 0x0000000000400428 in a (DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving has found
11226 function "a" at 0x400420 can call itself via tail calls
11227 i=<optimized out>) at t.c:6
11228 #2 0x000000000040036e in main () at t.c:7
11231 @value{GDBN} cannot find out from the inferior state if and how many times did
11232 function @code{a} call itself (via function @code{b}) as these calls would be
11233 tail calls. Such tail calls would modify thue @code{i} variable, therefore
11234 @value{GDBN} cannot be sure the value it knows would be right - @value{GDBN}
11235 prints @code{<optimized out>} instead.
11238 @chapter C Preprocessor Macros
11240 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
11241 ``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
11242 @value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
11243 the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
11244 where it was defined.
11246 You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
11247 with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
11248 include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
11249 with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
11251 A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
11252 and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
11253 points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
11254 no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
11255 uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
11256 @value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
11259 Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
11260 macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
11261 the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
11265 @kindex macro expand
11266 @cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
11267 @cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
11268 @cindex expanding preprocessor macros
11269 @item macro expand @var{expression}
11270 @itemx macro exp @var{expression}
11271 Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
11272 @var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
11273 not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
11274 it can be any string of tokens.
11277 @item macro expand-once @var{expression}
11278 @itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
11279 @cindex expand macro once
11280 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
11281 expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
11282 @var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
11283 left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
11284 particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
11285 expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
11286 parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
11287 can be any string of tokens.
11290 @cindex macro definition, showing
11291 @cindex definition of a macro, showing
11292 @cindex macros, from debug info
11293 @item info macro [-a|-all] [--] @var{macro}
11294 Show the current definition or all definitions of the named @var{macro},
11295 and describe the source location or compiler command-line where that
11296 definition was established. The optional double dash is to signify the end of
11297 argument processing and the beginning of @var{macro} for non C-like macros where
11298 the macro may begin with a hyphen.
11300 @kindex info macros
11301 @item info macros @var{linespec}
11302 Show all macro definitions that are in effect at the location specified
11303 by @var{linespec}, and describe the source location or compiler
11304 command-line where those definitions were established.
11306 @kindex macro define
11307 @cindex user-defined macros
11308 @cindex defining macros interactively
11309 @cindex macros, user-defined
11310 @item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
11311 @itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
11312 Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
11313 invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
11314 @var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
11315 ``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
11316 defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
11319 A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
11320 expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
11321 @code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
11322 all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
11323 as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
11325 @kindex macro undef
11326 @item macro undef @var{macro}
11327 Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
11328 This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
11329 define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
11330 in the program being debugged.
11334 List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
11337 @cindex macros, example of debugging with
11338 Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
11339 show our source files:
11344 #include "sample.h"
11347 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
11352 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
11354 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
11356 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
11363 Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
11364 @value{NGCC}. We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2}@footnote{This is the
11365 minimum. Recent versions of @value{NGCC} support @option{-gdwarf-3}
11366 and @option{-gdwarf-4}; we recommend always choosing the most recent
11367 version of DWARF.} @emph{and} @option{-g3} flags to ensure the compiler
11368 includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
11372 $ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
11376 Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
11380 GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
11381 Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
11382 GDB is free software, @dots{}
11386 We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
11387 program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
11388 to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
11391 (@value{GDBP}) list main
11394 5 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
11399 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
11401 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
11402 (@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
11403 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
11404 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
11405 (@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
11406 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
11407 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
11409 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
11410 expands to: (42 + 1)
11411 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
11412 expands to: once (M + 1)
11416 In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
11417 the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
11418 @code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
11419 which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
11421 Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
11422 force at the source line of the current stack frame:
11425 (@value{GDBP}) break main
11426 Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
11428 Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
11430 Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
11431 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
11435 At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
11438 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
11439 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
11441 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
11442 expands to: 28 < 42
11443 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
11448 As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
11449 give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
11450 thereof) in force at each point:
11453 (@value{GDBP}) next
11455 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
11456 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
11457 The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
11458 at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
11459 (@value{GDBP}) next
11461 14 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
11462 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
11463 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
11465 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
11466 expands to: 1729 < 42
11467 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
11472 In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
11473 line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
11474 such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
11475 of the source file submitted to the compiler.
11478 (@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
11479 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
11486 @chapter Tracepoints
11487 @c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
11488 @c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
11490 @cindex tracepoints
11491 In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
11492 the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
11493 anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
11494 depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
11495 might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
11496 fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
11497 to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
11499 Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
11500 specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
11501 arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
11502 Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
11503 those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
11504 expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
11505 for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
11506 a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
11507 in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
11508 values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
11509 unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
11511 The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
11512 targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
11513 how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
11514 remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
11515 support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
11516 packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
11519 It is also possible to get trace data from a file, in a manner reminiscent
11520 of corefiles; you specify the filename, and use @code{tfind} to search
11521 through the file. @xref{Trace Files}, for more details.
11523 This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
11526 * Set Tracepoints::
11527 * Analyze Collected Data::
11528 * Tracepoint Variables::
11532 @node Set Tracepoints
11533 @section Commands to Set Tracepoints
11535 Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
11536 tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
11537 breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
11538 standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
11539 tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
11540 of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
11541 as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
11543 For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
11544 of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
11545 it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
11546 local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
11547 commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
11548 tracepoint was hit.
11550 Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Ignore counts on
11551 tracepoints have no effect, and tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN}
11552 commands when they are hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific
11555 @cindex fast tracepoints
11556 Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
11557 a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
11558 faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
11560 @cindex static tracepoints
11561 @cindex markers, static tracepoints
11562 @cindex probing markers, static tracepoints
11563 Regular and fast tracepoints are dynamic tracing facilities, meaning
11564 that they can be used to insert tracepoints at (almost) any location
11565 in the target. Some targets may also support controlling @dfn{static
11566 tracepoints} from @value{GDBN}. With static tracing, a set of
11567 instrumentation points, also known as @dfn{markers}, are embedded in
11568 the target program, and can be activated or deactivated by name or
11569 address. These are usually placed at locations which facilitate
11570 investigating what the target is actually doing. @value{GDBN}'s
11571 support for static tracing includes being able to list instrumentation
11572 points, and attach them with @value{GDBN} defined high level
11573 tracepoints that expose the whole range of convenience of
11574 @value{GDBN}'s tracepoints support. Namely, support for collecting
11575 registers values and values of global or local (to the instrumentation
11576 point) variables; tracepoint conditions and trace state variables.
11577 The act of installing a @value{GDBN} static tracepoint on an
11578 instrumentation point, or marker, is referred to as @dfn{probing} a
11579 static tracepoint marker.
11581 @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints on some target systems.
11582 @xref{Server,,Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}}.
11584 This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
11585 conditions and actions.
11588 * Create and Delete Tracepoints::
11589 * Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
11590 * Tracepoint Passcounts::
11591 * Tracepoint Conditions::
11592 * Trace State Variables::
11593 * Tracepoint Actions::
11594 * Listing Tracepoints::
11595 * Listing Static Tracepoint Markers::
11596 * Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
11597 * Tracepoint Restrictions::
11600 @node Create and Delete Tracepoints
11601 @subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
11604 @cindex set tracepoint
11606 @item trace @var{location}
11607 The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
11608 Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
11609 an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
11610 @code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
11611 target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
11612 data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
11613 changing its actions takes effect immediately if the remote stub
11614 supports the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature (@pxref{install tracepoint
11616 If remote stub doesn't support the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature, all
11617 these changes don't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
11618 command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
11619 not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts. In addition,
11620 @value{GDBN} supports @dfn{pending tracepoints}---tracepoints whose
11621 address is not yet resolved. (This is similar to pending breakpoints.)
11622 Pending tracepoints are not downloaded to the target and not installed
11623 until they are resolved. The resolution of pending tracepoints requires
11624 @value{GDBN} support---when debugging with the remote target, and
11625 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the remote stub (@pxref{disconnected
11626 tracing}), pending tracepoints can not be resolved (and downloaded to
11627 the remote stub) while @value{GDBN} is disconnected.
11629 Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
11632 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
11634 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
11636 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
11638 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
11640 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
11644 You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
11646 @item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
11647 Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
11648 @var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
11649 if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
11650 @xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
11651 information on tracepoint conditions.
11653 @item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
11654 @cindex set fast tracepoint
11655 @cindex fast tracepoints, setting
11657 The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
11658 support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
11659 less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
11660 instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
11661 may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
11662 location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
11665 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
11668 On 32-bit x86-architecture systems, fast tracepoints normally need to
11669 be placed at an instruction that is 5 bytes or longer, but can be
11670 placed at 4-byte instructions if the low 64K of memory of the target
11671 program is available to install trampolines. Some Unix-type systems,
11672 such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, exclude low addresses from the program's
11673 address space; but for instance with the Linux kernel it is possible
11674 to let @value{GDBN} use this area by doing a @command{sysctl} command
11675 to set the @code{mmap_min_addr} kernel parameter, as in
11678 sudo sysctl -w vm.mmap_min_addr=32768
11682 which sets the low address to 32K, which leaves plenty of room for
11683 trampolines. The minimum address should be set to a page boundary.
11685 @item strace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
11686 @cindex set static tracepoint
11687 @cindex static tracepoints, setting
11688 @cindex probe static tracepoint marker
11690 The @code{strace} command sets a static tracepoint. For targets that
11691 support it, setting a static tracepoint probes a static
11692 instrumentation point, or marker, found at @var{location}. It may not
11693 be possible to set a static tracepoint at the desired location, in
11694 which case the command will exit with an explanatory message.
11696 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{strace} exactly as for
11697 @code{trace}, with the addition that the user can also specify
11698 @code{-m @var{marker}} as @var{location}. This probes the marker
11699 identified by the @var{marker} string identifier. This identifier
11700 depends on the static tracepoint backend library your program is
11701 using. You can find all the marker identifiers in the @samp{ID} field
11702 of the @code{info static-tracepoint-markers} command output.
11703 @xref{Listing Static Tracepoint Markers,,Listing Static Tracepoint
11704 Markers}. For example, in the following small program using the UST
11710 trace_mark(ust, bar33, "str %s", "FOOBAZ");
11715 the marker id is composed of joining the first two arguments to the
11716 @code{trace_mark} call with a slash, which translates to:
11719 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
11720 Cnt Enb ID Address What
11721 1 n ust/bar33 0x0000000000400ddc in main at stexample.c:22
11727 so you may probe the marker above with:
11730 (@value{GDBP}) strace -m ust/bar33
11733 Static tracepoints accept an extra collect action --- @code{collect
11734 $_sdata}. This collects arbitrary user data passed in the probe point
11735 call to the tracing library. In the UST example above, you'll see
11736 that the third argument to @code{trace_mark} is a printf-like format
11737 string. The user data is then the result of running that formating
11738 string against the following arguments. Note that @code{info
11739 static-tracepoint-markers} command output lists that format string in
11740 the @samp{Data:} field.
11742 You can inspect this data when analyzing the trace buffer, by printing
11743 the $_sdata variable like any other variable available to
11744 @value{GDBN}. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}.
11747 @cindex last tracepoint number
11748 @cindex recent tracepoint number
11749 @cindex tracepoint number
11750 The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
11751 of the most recently set tracepoint.
11753 @kindex delete tracepoint
11754 @cindex tracepoint deletion
11755 @item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11756 Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
11757 default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
11758 @code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
11763 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
11765 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
11769 You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
11772 @node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
11773 @subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
11775 These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
11778 @kindex disable tracepoint
11779 @item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11780 Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
11781 @var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
11782 a trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
11783 a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
11784 If the command is issued during a trace experiment and the debug target
11785 has support for disabling tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the
11786 change will be effective immediately. Otherwise, it will be applied to the
11787 next trace experiment.
11789 @kindex enable tracepoint
11790 @item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11791 Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. If this command is
11792 issued during a trace experiment and the debug target supports enabling
11793 tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the enabled tracepoints will
11794 become effective immediately. Otherwise, they will become effective the
11795 next time a trace experiment is run.
11798 @node Tracepoint Passcounts
11799 @subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
11803 @cindex tracepoint pass count
11804 @item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
11805 Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
11806 automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
11807 @var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
11808 the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
11809 @var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
11810 passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
11811 given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
11817 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
11818 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
11820 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
11821 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
11822 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
11823 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
11824 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
11825 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
11826 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
11827 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
11828 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
11829 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
11830 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
11834 @node Tracepoint Conditions
11835 @subsection Tracepoint Conditions
11836 @cindex conditional tracepoints
11837 @cindex tracepoint conditions
11839 The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
11840 reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
11841 a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
11842 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
11843 tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
11844 program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
11847 Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
11848 using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
11849 @xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
11850 also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
11851 just as with breakpoints.
11853 Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
11854 the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
11855 expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions})
11856 suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
11857 Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
11858 accesses, and so forth.
11860 For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
11861 frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
11862 could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
11863 of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
11864 through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
11865 collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
11869 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
11872 @node Trace State Variables
11873 @subsection Trace State Variables
11874 @cindex trace state variables
11876 A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
11877 created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
11878 that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
11879 but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
11880 using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
11883 Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
11884 to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
11885 experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
11886 trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
11888 @cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
11889 Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
11890 them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
11891 variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
11892 while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
11893 the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
11894 cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
11895 @code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
11896 variable with the same name.
11900 @item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
11902 The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
11903 @code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
11904 @var{expression}. @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
11905 entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
11906 otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
11907 @code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
11908 variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
11909 existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
11910 value. The default initial value is 0.
11912 @item info tvariables
11913 @kindex info tvariables
11914 List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
11915 Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
11918 @item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
11919 @kindex delete tvariable
11920 Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
11925 @node Tracepoint Actions
11926 @subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
11930 @cindex tracepoint actions
11931 @item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
11932 This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
11933 tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
11934 specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
11935 recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
11936 @code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
11937 actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
11938 terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
11939 far, the only defined actions are @code{collect}, @code{teval}, and
11940 @code{while-stepping}.
11942 @code{actions} is actually equivalent to @code{commands} (@pxref{Break
11943 Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}), except that only the defined
11944 actions are allowed; any other @value{GDBN} command is rejected.
11946 @cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
11947 To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
11948 and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
11951 (@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
11953 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
11955 (@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
11958 In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
11959 commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
11960 hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
11961 following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
11962 followed by the list of things to be collected after each step in a
11963 sequence of single steps. The @code{while-stepping} command is
11964 terminated by its own separate @code{end} command. Lastly, the action
11965 list is terminated by an @code{end} command.
11968 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
11969 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
11970 Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
11973 > while-stepping 12
11974 > collect $pc, arr[i]
11979 @kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
11980 @item collect@r{[}/@var{mods}@r{]} @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
11981 Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
11982 This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
11983 In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
11984 special arguments are supported:
11988 Collect all registers.
11991 Collect all function arguments.
11994 Collect all local variables.
11997 Collect the return address. This is helpful if you want to see more
12001 Collects the number of arguments from the static probe at which the
12002 tracepoint is located.
12003 @xref{Static Probe Points}.
12005 @item $_probe_arg@var{n}
12006 @var{n} is an integer between 0 and 11. Collects the @var{n}th argument
12007 from the static probe at which the tracepoint is located.
12008 @xref{Static Probe Points}.
12011 @vindex $_sdata@r{, collect}
12012 Collect static tracepoint marker specific data. Only available for
12013 static tracepoints. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action
12014 Lists}. On the UST static tracepoints library backend, an
12015 instrumentation point resembles a @code{printf} function call. The
12016 tracing library is able to collect user specified data formatted to a
12017 character string using the format provided by the programmer that
12018 instrumented the program. Other backends have similar mechanisms.
12019 Here's an example of a UST marker call:
12022 const char master_name[] = "$your_name";
12023 trace_mark(channel1, marker1, "hello %s", master_name)
12026 In this case, collecting @code{$_sdata} collects the string
12027 @samp{hello $yourname}. When analyzing the trace buffer, you can
12028 inspect @samp{$_sdata} like any other variable available to
12032 You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
12033 with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
12034 arguments separated by commas; the effect is the same.
12036 The optional @var{mods} changes the usual handling of the arguments.
12037 @code{s} requests that pointers to chars be handled as strings, in
12038 particular collecting the contents of the memory being pointed at, up
12039 to the first zero. The upper bound is by default the value of the
12040 @code{print elements} variable; if @code{s} is followed by a decimal
12041 number, that is the upper bound instead. So for instance
12042 @samp{collect/s25 mystr} collects as many as 25 characters at
12045 The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
12046 particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
12048 @kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
12049 @item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
12050 Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
12051 command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
12052 are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
12053 state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
12054 values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
12057 @kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
12058 @item while-stepping @var{n}
12059 Perform @var{n} single-step instruction traces after the tracepoint,
12060 collecting new data after each step. The @code{while-stepping}
12061 command is followed by the list of what to collect while stepping
12062 (followed by its own @code{end} command):
12065 > while-stepping 12
12066 > collect $regs, myglobal
12072 Note that @code{$pc} is not automatically collected by
12073 @code{while-stepping}; you need to explicitly collect that register if
12074 you need it. You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
12077 @item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
12078 @kindex set default-collect
12079 @cindex default collection action
12080 This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
12081 hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
12082 to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
12083 individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
12084 @code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
12085 local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
12087 @item show default-collect
12088 @kindex show default-collect
12089 Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
12094 @node Listing Tracepoints
12095 @subsection Listing Tracepoints
12098 @kindex info tracepoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
12099 @kindex info tp @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
12100 @cindex information about tracepoints
12101 @item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@dots{}@r{]}
12102 Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
12103 specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
12104 tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
12105 @code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
12106 command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
12108 A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
12113 its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
12116 the state about installed on target of each location
12120 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
12121 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
12122 1 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
12124 collect globfoo, $regs
12129 2 tracepoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
12131 2.1 y 0x0804859c in func4 at change-loc.h:35
12132 installed on target
12133 2.2 y 0xb7ffc480 in func4 at change-loc.h:35
12134 installed on target
12135 2.3 y <PENDING> set_tracepoint
12136 3 tracepoint keep y 0x080485b1 in foo at change-loc.c:29
12137 not installed on target
12142 This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
12145 @node Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
12146 @subsection Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
12149 @kindex info static-tracepoint-markers
12150 @cindex information about static tracepoint markers
12151 @item info static-tracepoint-markers
12152 Display information about all static tracepoint markers defined in the
12155 For each marker, the following columns are printed:
12159 An incrementing counter, output to help readability. This is not a
12162 The marker ID, as reported by the target.
12163 @item Enabled or Disabled
12164 Probed markers are tagged with @samp{y}. @samp{n} identifies marks
12165 that are not enabled.
12167 Where the marker is in your program, as a memory address.
12169 Where the marker is in the source for your program, as a file and line
12170 number. If the debug information included in the program does not
12171 allow @value{GDBN} to locate the source of the marker, this column
12172 will be left blank.
12176 In addition, the following information may be printed for each marker:
12180 User data passed to the tracing library by the marker call. In the
12181 UST backend, this is the format string passed as argument to the
12183 @item Static tracepoints probing the marker
12184 The list of static tracepoints attached to the marker.
12188 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
12189 Cnt ID Enb Address What
12190 1 ust/bar2 y 0x0000000000400e1a in main at stexample.c:25
12191 Data: number1 %d number2 %d
12192 Probed by static tracepoints: #2
12193 2 ust/bar33 n 0x0000000000400c87 in main at stexample.c:24
12199 @node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
12200 @subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
12203 @kindex tstart [ @var{notes} ]
12204 @cindex start a new trace experiment
12205 @cindex collected data discarded
12207 This command starts the trace experiment, and begins collecting data.
12208 It has the side effect of discarding all the data collected in the
12209 trace buffer during the previous trace experiment. If any arguments
12210 are supplied, they are taken as a note and stored with the trace
12211 experiment's state. The notes may be arbitrary text, and are
12212 especially useful with disconnected tracing in a multi-user context;
12213 the notes can explain what the trace is doing, supply user contact
12214 information, and so forth.
12216 @kindex tstop [ @var{notes} ]
12217 @cindex stop a running trace experiment
12219 This command stops the trace experiment. If any arguments are
12220 supplied, they are recorded with the experiment as a note. This is
12221 useful if you are stopping a trace started by someone else, for
12222 instance if the trace is interfering with the system's behavior and
12223 needs to be stopped quickly.
12225 @strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
12226 automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
12227 (@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
12230 @cindex status of trace data collection
12231 @cindex trace experiment, status of
12233 This command displays the status of the current trace data
12237 Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
12240 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
12241 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
12242 Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
12243 > collect $regs,$locals,$args
12244 > while-stepping 11
12248 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
12249 [time passes @dots{}]
12250 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
12253 @anchor{disconnected tracing}
12254 @cindex disconnected tracing
12255 You can choose to continue running the trace experiment even if
12256 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target, voluntarily or
12257 involuntarily. For commands such as @code{detach}, the debugger will
12258 ask what you want to do with the trace. But for unexpected
12259 terminations (@value{GDBN} crash, network outage), it would be
12260 unfortunate to lose hard-won trace data, so the variable
12261 @code{disconnected-tracing} lets you decide whether the trace should
12262 continue running without @value{GDBN}.
12265 @item set disconnected-tracing on
12266 @itemx set disconnected-tracing off
12267 @kindex set disconnected-tracing
12268 Choose whether a tracing run should continue to run if @value{GDBN}
12269 has disconnected from the target. Note that @code{detach} or
12270 @code{quit} will ask you directly what to do about a running trace no
12271 matter what this variable's setting, so the variable is mainly useful
12272 for handling unexpected situations, such as loss of the network.
12274 @item show disconnected-tracing
12275 @kindex show disconnected-tracing
12276 Show the current choice for disconnected tracing.
12280 When you reconnect to the target, the trace experiment may or may not
12281 still be running; it might have filled the trace buffer in the
12282 meantime, or stopped for one of the other reasons. If it is running,
12283 it will continue after reconnection.
12285 Upon reconnection, the target will upload information about the
12286 tracepoints in effect. @value{GDBN} will then compare that
12287 information to the set of tracepoints currently defined, and attempt
12288 to match them up, allowing for the possibility that the numbers may
12289 have changed due to creation and deletion in the meantime. If one of
12290 the target's tracepoints does not match any in @value{GDBN}, the
12291 debugger will create a new tracepoint, so that you have a number with
12292 which to specify that tracepoint. This matching-up process is
12293 necessarily heuristic, and it may result in useless tracepoints being
12294 created; you may simply delete them if they are of no use.
12296 @cindex circular trace buffer
12297 If your target agent supports a @dfn{circular trace buffer}, then you
12298 can run a trace experiment indefinitely without filling the trace
12299 buffer; when space runs out, the agent deletes already-collected trace
12300 frames, oldest first, until there is enough room to continue
12301 collecting. This is especially useful if your tracepoints are being
12302 hit too often, and your trace gets terminated prematurely because the
12303 buffer is full. To ask for a circular trace buffer, simply set
12304 @samp{circular-trace-buffer} to on. You can set this at any time,
12305 including during tracing; if the agent can do it, it will change
12306 buffer handling on the fly, otherwise it will not take effect until
12310 @item set circular-trace-buffer on
12311 @itemx set circular-trace-buffer off
12312 @kindex set circular-trace-buffer
12313 Choose whether a tracing run should use a linear or circular buffer
12314 for trace data. A linear buffer will not lose any trace data, but may
12315 fill up prematurely, while a circular buffer will discard old trace
12316 data, but it will have always room for the latest tracepoint hits.
12318 @item show circular-trace-buffer
12319 @kindex show circular-trace-buffer
12320 Show the current choice for the trace buffer. Note that this may not
12321 match the agent's current buffer handling, nor is it guaranteed to
12322 match the setting that might have been in effect during a past run,
12323 for instance if you are looking at frames from a trace file.
12328 @item set trace-buffer-size @var{n}
12329 @itemx set trace-buffer-size unlimited
12330 @kindex set trace-buffer-size
12331 Request that the target use a trace buffer of @var{n} bytes. Not all
12332 targets will honor the request; they may have a compiled-in size for
12333 the trace buffer, or some other limitation. Set to a value of
12334 @code{unlimited} or @code{-1} to let the target use whatever size it
12335 likes. This is also the default.
12337 @item show trace-buffer-size
12338 @kindex show trace-buffer-size
12339 Show the current requested size for the trace buffer. Note that this
12340 will only match the actual size if the target supports size-setting,
12341 and was able to handle the requested size. For instance, if the
12342 target can only change buffer size between runs, this variable will
12343 not reflect the change until the next run starts. Use @code{tstatus}
12344 to get a report of the actual buffer size.
12348 @item set trace-user @var{text}
12349 @kindex set trace-user
12351 @item show trace-user
12352 @kindex show trace-user
12354 @item set trace-notes @var{text}
12355 @kindex set trace-notes
12356 Set the trace run's notes.
12358 @item show trace-notes
12359 @kindex show trace-notes
12360 Show the trace run's notes.
12362 @item set trace-stop-notes @var{text}
12363 @kindex set trace-stop-notes
12364 Set the trace run's stop notes. The handling of the note is as for
12365 @code{tstop} arguments; the set command is convenient way to fix a
12366 stop note that is mistaken or incomplete.
12368 @item show trace-stop-notes
12369 @kindex show trace-stop-notes
12370 Show the trace run's stop notes.
12374 @node Tracepoint Restrictions
12375 @subsection Tracepoint Restrictions
12377 @cindex tracepoint restrictions
12378 There are a number of restrictions on the use of tracepoints. As
12379 described above, tracepoint data gathering occurs on the target
12380 without interaction from @value{GDBN}. Thus the full capabilities of
12381 the debugger are not available during data gathering, and then at data
12382 examination time, you will be limited by only having what was
12383 collected. The following items describe some common problems, but it
12384 is not exhaustive, and you may run into additional difficulties not
12390 Tracepoint expressions are intended to gather objects (lvalues). Thus
12391 the full flexibility of GDB's expression evaluator is not available.
12392 You cannot call functions, cast objects to aggregate types, access
12393 convenience variables or modify values (except by assignment to trace
12394 state variables). Some language features may implicitly call
12395 functions (for instance Objective-C fields with accessors), and therefore
12396 cannot be collected either.
12399 Collection of local variables, either individually or in bulk with
12400 @code{$locals} or @code{$args}, during @code{while-stepping} may
12401 behave erratically. The stepping action may enter a new scope (for
12402 instance by stepping into a function), or the location of the variable
12403 may change (for instance it is loaded into a register). The
12404 tracepoint data recorded uses the location information for the
12405 variables that is correct for the tracepoint location. When the
12406 tracepoint is created, it is not possible, in general, to determine
12407 where the steps of a @code{while-stepping} sequence will advance the
12408 program---particularly if a conditional branch is stepped.
12411 Collection of an incompletely-initialized or partially-destroyed object
12412 may result in something that @value{GDBN} cannot display, or displays
12413 in a misleading way.
12416 When @value{GDBN} displays a pointer to character it automatically
12417 dereferences the pointer to also display characters of the string
12418 being pointed to. However, collecting the pointer during tracing does
12419 not automatically collect the string. You need to explicitly
12420 dereference the pointer and provide size information if you want to
12421 collect not only the pointer, but the memory pointed to. For example,
12422 @code{*ptr@@50} can be used to collect the 50 element array pointed to
12426 It is not possible to collect a complete stack backtrace at a
12427 tracepoint. Instead, you may collect the registers and a few hundred
12428 bytes from the stack pointer with something like @code{*(unsigned char *)$esp@@300}
12429 (adjust to use the name of the actual stack pointer register on your
12430 target architecture, and the amount of stack you wish to capture).
12431 Then the @code{backtrace} command will show a partial backtrace when
12432 using a trace frame. The number of stack frames that can be examined
12433 depends on the sizes of the frames in the collected stack. Note that
12434 if you ask for a block so large that it goes past the bottom of the
12435 stack, the target agent may report an error trying to read from an
12439 If you do not collect registers at a tracepoint, @value{GDBN} can
12440 infer that the value of @code{$pc} must be the same as the address of
12441 the tracepoint and use that when you are looking at a trace frame
12442 for that tracepoint. However, this cannot work if the tracepoint has
12443 multiple locations (for instance if it was set in a function that was
12444 inlined), or if it has a @code{while-stepping} loop. In those cases
12445 @value{GDBN} will warn you that it can't infer @code{$pc}, and default
12450 @node Analyze Collected Data
12451 @section Using the Collected Data
12453 After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
12454 for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
12455 collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
12456 snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
12457 consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
12458 examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
12459 specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
12460 snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
12461 registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
12462 rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
12463 debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
12464 (@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
12465 behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
12466 when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
12467 the buffer will fail.
12470 * tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
12471 * tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
12472 * save tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
12476 @subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
12479 @cindex select trace snapshot
12480 @cindex find trace snapshot
12481 The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
12482 @code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
12483 counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
12484 snapshot is selected.
12486 Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
12490 Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
12491 @code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
12494 Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
12497 Same as @samp{tfind none}.
12500 No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
12503 Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
12504 retracing earlier steps.
12506 @item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
12507 Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
12508 proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
12509 argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
12510 for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
12512 @item tfind pc @var{addr}
12513 Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
12514 program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
12515 snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
12516 snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
12518 @item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
12519 Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
12520 addresses (exclusive).
12522 @item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
12523 Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
12524 @var{addr2} (inclusive).
12526 @item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
12527 Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
12528 the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
12529 that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
12530 trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
12531 next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
12532 @code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
12533 stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
12536 The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
12537 designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
12538 instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
12539 snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
12540 trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
12541 simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
12542 snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
12543 @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
12544 The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
12545 for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
12546 no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
12547 (PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
12548 no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
12549 tracepoint as the current one.
12551 In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
12552 these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
12553 scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
12554 you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
12555 registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
12558 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12559 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
12560 > printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
12561 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
12565 Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
12566 Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
12567 Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
12568 Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
12569 Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
12570 Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
12571 Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
12572 Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
12573 Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
12574 Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
12575 Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
12578 Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
12582 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12583 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
12584 > printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
12594 @subsection @code{tdump}
12596 @cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
12597 @cindex tracepoint data, display
12599 This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
12600 the current trace snapshot.
12603 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
12604 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
12605 Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
12606 > collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
12609 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
12611 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
12612 #0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
12614 444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
12616 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
12617 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
12618 d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
12622 d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
12625 d7 0x380035 3670069
12626 a0 0x19e24a 1696330
12627 a1 0x3000668 50333288
12629 a3 0x322000 3284992
12630 a4 0x3000698 50333336
12631 a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
12632 fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
12633 sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
12635 pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
12639 p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
12646 gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
12651 @code{tdump} works by scanning the tracepoint's current collection
12652 actions and printing the value of each expression listed. So
12653 @code{tdump} can fail, if after a run, you change the tracepoint's
12654 actions to mention variables that were not collected during the run.
12656 Also, for tracepoints with @code{while-stepping} loops, @code{tdump}
12657 uses the collected value of @code{$pc} to distinguish between trace
12658 frames that were collected at the tracepoint hit, and frames that were
12659 collected while stepping. This allows it to correctly choose whether
12660 to display the basic list of collections, or the collections from the
12661 body of the while-stepping loop. However, if @code{$pc} was not collected,
12662 then @code{tdump} will always attempt to dump using the basic collection
12663 list, and may fail if a while-stepping frame does not include all the
12664 same data that is collected at the tracepoint hit.
12665 @c This is getting pretty arcane, example would be good.
12667 @node save tracepoints
12668 @subsection @code{save tracepoints @var{filename}}
12669 @kindex save tracepoints
12670 @kindex save-tracepoints
12671 @cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
12673 This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
12674 their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
12675 suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
12676 tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
12677 Files}). The @w{@code{save-tracepoints}} command is a deprecated
12678 alias for @w{@code{save tracepoints}}
12680 @node Tracepoint Variables
12681 @section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
12682 @cindex tracepoint variables
12683 @cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
12686 @vindex $trace_frame
12687 @item (int) $trace_frame
12688 The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
12689 snapshot is selected.
12691 @vindex $tracepoint
12692 @item (int) $tracepoint
12693 The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
12695 @vindex $trace_line
12696 @item (int) $trace_line
12697 The line number for the current trace snapshot.
12699 @vindex $trace_file
12700 @item (char []) $trace_file
12701 The source file for the current trace snapshot.
12703 @vindex $trace_func
12704 @item (char []) $trace_func
12705 The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
12708 Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
12709 use @code{output} instead.
12711 Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
12712 stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
12713 data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
12714 which are managed by the target.
12717 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
12719 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
12720 > output $trace_file
12721 > printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
12727 @section Using Trace Files
12728 @cindex trace files
12730 In some situations, the target running a trace experiment may no
12731 longer be available; perhaps it crashed, or the hardware was needed
12732 for a different activity. To handle these cases, you can arrange to
12733 dump the trace data into a file, and later use that file as a source
12734 of trace data, via the @code{target tfile} command.
12739 @item tsave [ -r ] @var{filename}
12740 @itemx tsave [-ctf] @var{dirname}
12741 Save the trace data to @var{filename}. By default, this command
12742 assumes that @var{filename} refers to the host filesystem, so if
12743 necessary @value{GDBN} will copy raw trace data up from the target and
12744 then save it. If the target supports it, you can also supply the
12745 optional argument @code{-r} (``remote'') to direct the target to save
12746 the data directly into @var{filename} in its own filesystem, which may be
12747 more efficient if the trace buffer is very large. (Note, however, that
12748 @code{target tfile} can only read from files accessible to the host.)
12749 By default, this command will save trace frame in tfile format.
12750 You can supply the optional argument @code{-ctf} to save date in CTF
12751 format. The @dfn{Common Trace Format} (CTF) is proposed as a trace format
12752 that can be shared by multiple debugging and tracing tools. Please go to
12753 @indicateurl{http://www.efficios.com/ctf} to get more information.
12755 @kindex target tfile
12759 @item target tfile @var{filename}
12760 @itemx target ctf @var{dirname}
12761 Use the file named @var{filename} or directory named @var{dirname} as
12762 a source of trace data. Commands that examine data work as they do with
12763 a live target, but it is not possible to run any new trace experiments.
12764 @code{tstatus} will report the state of the trace run at the moment
12765 the data was saved, as well as the current trace frame you are examining.
12766 @var{filename} or @var{dirname} must be on a filesystem accessible to
12770 (@value{GDBP}) target ctf ctf.ctf
12771 (@value{GDBP}) tfind
12772 Found trace frame 0, tracepoint 2
12773 39 ++a; /* set tracepoint 1 here */
12774 (@value{GDBP}) tdump
12775 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 0:
12779 c = @{"123", "456", "789", "123", "456", "789"@}
12780 d = @{@{@{a = 1, b = 2@}, @{a = 3, b = 4@}@}, @{@{a = 5, b = 6@}, @{a = 7, b = 8@}@}@}
12788 @chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
12791 If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
12792 memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
12793 problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
12797 * How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
12798 * Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
12799 * Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
12800 mapped by asking the inferior.
12801 * Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
12804 @node How Overlays Work
12805 @section How Overlays Work
12806 @cindex mapped overlays
12807 @cindex unmapped overlays
12808 @cindex load address, overlay's
12809 @cindex mapped address
12810 @cindex overlay area
12812 Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
12813 kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
12814 other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
12815 management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
12816 adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
12818 One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
12819 independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
12820 @dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
12821 their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
12822 instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
12823 largest overlay as well.
12825 Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
12826 overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
12827 for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
12830 @c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
12831 @c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
12832 @c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
12836 Data Instruction Larger
12837 Address Space Address Space Address Space
12838 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
12840 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
12841 | program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
12842 | variables | | program | | +-----------+
12843 | and heap | | | | | |
12844 +-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
12845 | | +-----------+ | | | load address
12846 +-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
12848 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
12849 address | | | | | |
12850 | overlay | <-' | | |
12851 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
12852 | | <---. | | load address
12853 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
12860 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
12864 The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
12865 and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
12866 its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
12867 Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
12868 may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
12869 data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
12870 program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
12871 program and the overlay area.
12873 An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
12874 @dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
12875 instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
12876 in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
12877 is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
12878 the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
12879 called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
12881 Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
12882 program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
12883 global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
12888 Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
12889 must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
12890 return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
12891 overlay, and your program will probably crash.
12894 If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
12895 will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
12896 your program's performance.
12899 The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
12900 overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
12901 mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
12902 and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
12903 You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
12904 addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
12905 ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
12908 The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
12909 to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
12910 instruction and data spaces.
12914 The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
12915 improved in many ways:
12920 If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
12921 hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
12922 contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
12923 This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
12924 area in the usual way.
12927 If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
12928 overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
12931 You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
12932 general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
12933 code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
12934 return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
12935 the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
12936 must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
12937 different data overlay into the same mapped area.
12942 @node Overlay Commands
12943 @section Overlay Commands
12945 To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
12946 correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
12947 virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
12948 mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
12949 @value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
12950 variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
12952 @value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
12953 you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
12958 Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
12959 disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
12960 always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
12961 overlay support is disabled.
12963 @item overlay manual
12964 @cindex manual overlay debugging
12965 Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
12966 relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
12967 using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
12968 commands described below.
12970 @item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
12971 @itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
12972 @cindex map an overlay
12973 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
12974 be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
12975 overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
12976 functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
12977 that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
12978 @var{overlay} are now unmapped.
12980 @item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
12981 @itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
12982 @cindex unmap an overlay
12983 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
12984 must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
12985 When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
12986 overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
12989 Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
12990 consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
12991 to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
12992 Overlay Debugging}.
12994 @item overlay load-target
12995 @itemx overlay load
12996 @cindex reloading the overlay table
12997 Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
12998 re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
12999 stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
13000 overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
13001 useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
13003 @item overlay list-overlays
13004 @itemx overlay list
13005 @cindex listing mapped overlays
13006 Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
13007 addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
13011 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
13012 of the function the address falls in:
13015 (@value{GDBP}) print main
13016 $3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
13019 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
13020 unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
13021 asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
13022 unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
13025 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
13026 No sections are mapped.
13027 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
13028 $5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
13031 When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
13035 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
13036 Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
13037 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
13038 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
13039 $6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
13042 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
13043 address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
13044 overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
13045 @code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
13046 code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
13050 @cindex breakpoints in overlays
13051 @cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
13052 You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
13053 @value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
13055 @value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
13056 unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
13057 overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
13058 you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
13059 breakpoints properly.
13063 @node Automatic Overlay Debugging
13064 @section Automatic Overlay Debugging
13065 @cindex automatic overlay debugging
13067 @value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
13068 are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
13069 inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
13070 @code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
13071 looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
13072 current state of the overlays.
13074 Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
13075 @value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
13079 @item @code{_ovly_table}:
13080 This variable must be an array of the following structures:
13085 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
13088 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
13089 unsigned long size;
13091 /* The overlay's load address. */
13094 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
13096 unsigned long mapped;
13100 @item @code{_novlys}:
13101 This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
13102 number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
13106 To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
13107 looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
13108 @code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
13109 executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
13110 the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
13113 In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
13114 @code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
13115 will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
13116 calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
13117 will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
13118 are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
13119 in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
13120 overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
13121 are not being executed.
13123 @node Overlay Sample Program
13124 @section Overlay Sample Program
13125 @cindex overlay example program
13127 When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
13128 at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
13129 addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
13130 Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
13131 since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
13132 architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
13133 portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
13135 However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
13136 program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
13137 suite. The program consists of the following files from
13138 @file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
13142 The main program file.
13144 A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
13149 Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
13152 Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
13153 and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
13156 You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
13157 cross-compiler like this:
13160 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
13161 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
13162 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
13163 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
13164 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
13165 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
13166 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
13167 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
13170 The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
13171 you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
13172 target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
13176 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
13179 Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
13180 rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
13181 dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
13182 Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
13183 represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
13184 @samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
13186 @cindex working language
13187 Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
13188 allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
13189 native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
13190 consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
13191 language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
13195 * Setting:: Switching between source languages
13196 * Show:: Displaying the language
13197 * Checks:: Type and range checks
13198 * Supported Languages:: Supported languages
13199 * Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
13203 @section Switching Between Source Languages
13205 There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
13206 set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
13207 @code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
13208 defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
13209 used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
13212 In addition to the working language, every source file that
13213 @value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
13214 file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
13215 source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
13216 language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
13217 controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
13218 show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
13219 set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
13220 set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
13221 Displaying the Language}.
13223 This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
13224 as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
13225 another language. In that case, make the
13226 program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
13227 @value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
13228 program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
13231 * Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
13232 * Manually:: Setting the working language manually
13233 * Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
13237 @subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
13239 If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
13240 @value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
13258 C@t{++} source file
13264 Objective-C source file
13268 Fortran source file
13271 Modula-2 source file
13275 Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
13276 @value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
13279 In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
13280 extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
13283 @subsection Setting the Working Language
13285 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
13286 expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
13289 @kindex set language
13290 If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
13291 command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
13292 a language, such as
13293 @code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
13294 For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
13296 Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
13297 language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
13298 to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
13299 source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
13300 languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
13301 source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
13309 might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
13310 @code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
13311 printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
13312 @code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
13314 @node Automatically
13315 @subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
13317 To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
13318 @samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
13319 then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
13320 frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
13321 working language to the language recorded for the function in that
13322 frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
13323 or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
13324 does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
13325 not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
13327 This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
13328 entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
13329 written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
13330 a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
13331 case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
13334 @section Displaying the Language
13336 The following commands help you find out which language is the
13337 working language, and also what language source files were written in.
13340 @item show language
13341 @kindex show language
13342 Display the current working language. This is the
13343 language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
13344 build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
13347 @kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
13348 Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
13349 working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
13350 @xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
13351 information listed here.
13354 @kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
13355 Display the source language of this source file.
13356 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
13357 information listed here.
13360 In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
13361 not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
13362 with a language explicitly:
13365 @item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
13366 @kindex set extension-language
13367 Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
13368 assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
13370 @item info extensions
13371 @kindex info extensions
13372 List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
13376 @section Type and Range Checking
13378 Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
13379 errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
13380 checking the type of arguments to functions and operators and making
13381 sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
13382 these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
13383 by eliminating type mismatches and providing active checks for range
13384 errors when your program is running.
13386 By default @value{GDBN} checks for these errors according to the
13387 rules of the current source language. Although @value{GDBN} does not check
13388 the statements in your program, it can check expressions entered directly
13389 into @value{GDBN} for evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example.
13392 * Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
13393 * Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
13396 @cindex type checking
13397 @cindex checks, type
13398 @node Type Checking
13399 @subsection An Overview of Type Checking
13401 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, are strongly typed, meaning that the
13402 arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
13403 otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
13404 errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
13407 int klass::my_method(char *b) @{ return b ? 1 : 2; @}
13409 (@value{GDBP}) print obj.my_method (0)
13412 (@value{GDBP}) print obj.my_method (0x1234)
13413 Cannot resolve method klass::my_method to any overloaded instance
13416 The second example fails because in C@t{++} the integer constant
13417 @samp{0x1234} is not type-compatible with the pointer parameter type.
13419 For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
13420 @value{GDBN} to not enforce strict type checking or
13421 to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
13422 When type checking is disabled, @value{GDBN} successfully evaluates
13423 expressions like the second example above.
13425 Even if type checking is off, there may be other reasons
13426 related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
13427 For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
13428 a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
13429 with the language in use and usually arise from expressions which make
13430 little sense to evaluate anyway.
13432 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling type checking:
13434 @kindex set check type
13435 @kindex show check type
13437 @item set check type on
13438 @itemx set check type off
13439 Set strict type checking on or off. If any type mismatches occur in
13440 evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
13441 message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
13443 @item show check type
13444 Show the current setting of type checking and whether @value{GDBN}
13445 is enforcing strict type checking rules.
13448 @cindex range checking
13449 @cindex checks, range
13450 @node Range Checking
13451 @subsection An Overview of Range Checking
13453 In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
13454 bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
13455 checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
13456 computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
13457 not exceed the bounds of the array.
13459 For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
13460 @value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
13461 always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
13462 warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
13464 A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
13465 array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
13466 of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
13467 error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
13468 result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
13469 the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
13472 @var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
13475 This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
13476 specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
13477 Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
13479 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
13481 @kindex set check range
13482 @kindex show check range
13484 @item set check range auto
13485 Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
13486 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
13489 @item set check range on
13490 @itemx set check range off
13491 Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
13492 current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
13493 match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
13494 then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
13496 @item set check range warn
13497 Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
13498 but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
13499 expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
13500 memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
13504 Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
13505 being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
13508 @node Supported Languages
13509 @section Supported Languages
13511 @value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, D, Go, Objective-C, Fortran, Java,
13512 OpenCL C, Pascal, assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
13513 @c This is false ...
13514 Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
13515 language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
13516 and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
13517 ,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
13520 The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
13521 supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
13522 tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
13523 @value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
13524 formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
13525 books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
13526 language reference or tutorial.
13529 * C:: C and C@t{++}
13532 * Objective-C:: Objective-C
13533 * OpenCL C:: OpenCL C
13534 * Fortran:: Fortran
13536 * Modula-2:: Modula-2
13541 @subsection C and C@t{++}
13543 @cindex C and C@t{++}
13544 @cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
13546 Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
13547 to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
13551 @cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
13552 @cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
13553 The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
13554 compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
13555 effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
13556 C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
13557 compiler (@code{aCC}).
13560 * C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
13561 * C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
13562 * C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
13563 * C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
13564 * C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
13565 * Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
13566 * Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
13567 * Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
13571 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
13573 @cindex C and C@t{++} operators
13575 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
13576 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
13577 often defined on groups of types.
13579 For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
13584 @emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
13585 specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
13588 @emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
13589 @code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
13592 @emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
13595 @emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
13600 The following operators are supported. They are listed here
13601 in order of increasing precedence:
13605 The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
13606 are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
13607 expression being the last expression evaluated.
13610 Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
13611 assigned. Defined on scalar types.
13614 Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
13615 and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
13616 @w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
13617 @var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
13618 @code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
13621 The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
13622 of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
13626 Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13629 Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
13632 Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13635 Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
13638 Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
13641 Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
13642 expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
13644 @item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
13645 Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
13646 Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
13647 and non-zero for true.
13650 left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
13653 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
13656 Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
13659 @item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
13660 Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
13661 defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
13665 Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
13666 operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
13667 when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
13668 operation takes place.
13671 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
13675 Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
13677 For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
13678 allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
13679 to examine the address
13680 where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
13684 Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
13685 precedence as @code{++}.
13688 Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
13692 Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
13697 Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
13698 @value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
13699 pointer based on the stored type information.
13700 Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
13703 Dereferences of pointers to members.
13706 Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
13707 @code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
13710 Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
13713 C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
13714 and @code{class} types.
13717 Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
13718 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
13722 If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
13723 attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
13724 predefined meaning.
13727 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
13729 @cindex C and C@t{++} constants
13731 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
13736 Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
13737 specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
13738 by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
13739 @samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
13743 Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
13744 point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
13745 exponent. An exponent is of the form:
13746 @samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
13747 sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
13748 A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
13749 @samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
13750 the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
13751 a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
13755 Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
13756 integral equivalents.
13759 Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
13760 (@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
13761 (usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
13762 be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
13763 the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
13764 of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
13765 @samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
13766 @samp{\n} for newline.
13768 Wide character constants can be written by prefixing a character
13769 constant with @samp{L}, as in C. For example, @samp{L'x'} is the wide
13770 form of @samp{x}. The target wide character set is used when
13771 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
13774 String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
13775 double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
13776 above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
13777 a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
13780 Wide string constants can be written by prefixing a string constant
13781 with @samp{L}, as in C. The target wide character set is used when
13782 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
13785 Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
13786 to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
13789 Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
13790 and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
13791 integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
13792 and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
13795 @node C Plus Plus Expressions
13796 @subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
13798 @cindex expressions in C@t{++}
13799 @value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
13801 @cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
13802 @cindex C@t{++} compilers
13803 @cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
13804 @cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
13806 @emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use
13807 the proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently,
13808 @value{GDBN} works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled
13809 with the most recent version of @value{NGCC} possible. The DWARF
13810 debugging format is preferred; @value{NGCC} defaults to this on most
13811 popular platforms. Other compilers and/or debug formats are likely to
13812 work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug C@t{++}
13813 code. @xref{Compilation}.
13818 @cindex member functions
13820 Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
13823 count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
13826 @vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
13827 @cindex namespace in C@t{++}
13829 While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
13830 expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
13831 that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
13832 pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}. @code{using}
13833 declarations in the current scope are also respected by @value{GDBN}.
13835 @cindex call overloaded functions
13836 @cindex overloaded functions, calling
13837 @cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
13839 You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
13840 call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
13841 perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
13842 calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
13843 in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
13846 It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
13847 promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
13848 class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
13849 functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
13850 number of function arguments.
13852 Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
13853 @code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
13854 ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
13856 You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
13857 explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
13859 p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
13862 The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
13863 see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
13865 @cindex reference declarations
13867 @value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
13868 them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
13871 In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
13872 reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
13873 avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
13874 The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
13875 you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
13878 @value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
13879 expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
13880 one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
13881 necessary, for example in an expression like
13882 @samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
13883 resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
13884 debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
13887 @value{GDBN} performs argument-dependent lookup, following the C@t{++}
13892 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
13894 @cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
13896 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set range checking automatically, it
13897 defaults to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
13898 C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
13899 selects the working language.
13901 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
13902 recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
13903 @file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
13904 these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
13905 @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
13906 for further details.
13909 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
13911 @cindex C and C@t{++} checks
13913 By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, strict type
13914 checking is used. However, if you turn type checking off, @value{GDBN}
13915 will allow certain non-standard conversions, such as promoting integer
13916 constants to pointers.
13918 Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
13919 indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
13920 that is not itself an array.
13923 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
13925 The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
13926 the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
13927 inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
13928 appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
13930 The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
13931 with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
13934 @node Debugging C Plus Plus
13935 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
13937 @cindex commands for C@t{++}
13939 Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
13940 designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
13943 @cindex break in overloaded functions
13944 @item @r{breakpoint menus}
13945 When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
13946 @value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
13947 locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
13948 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
13950 @cindex overloading in C@t{++}
13951 @item rbreak @var{regex}
13952 Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
13953 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
13955 @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
13957 @cindex C@t{++} exception handling
13959 @itemx catch rethrow
13961 Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
13962 Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
13964 @cindex inheritance
13965 @item ptype @var{typename}
13966 Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
13968 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
13970 @item info vtbl @var{expression}.
13971 The @code{info vtbl} command can be used to display the virtual
13972 method tables of the object computed by @var{expression}. This shows
13973 one entry per virtual table; there may be multiple virtual tables when
13974 multiple inheritance is in use.
13976 @cindex C@t{++} symbol display
13977 @item set print demangle
13978 @itemx show print demangle
13979 @itemx set print asm-demangle
13980 @itemx show print asm-demangle
13981 Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
13982 displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
13983 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13985 @item set print object
13986 @itemx show print object
13987 Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
13988 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13990 @item set print vtbl
13991 @itemx show print vtbl
13992 Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
13993 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
13994 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
13995 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
13997 @kindex set overload-resolution
13998 @cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
13999 @item set overload-resolution on
14000 Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
14001 is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
14002 and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
14003 using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
14004 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
14005 If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
14007 @item set overload-resolution off
14008 Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
14009 overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
14010 chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
14011 symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
14012 overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
14013 searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
14016 @kindex show overload-resolution
14017 @item show overload-resolution
14018 Show the current setting of overload resolution.
14020 @item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
14021 You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
14022 the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
14023 @code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
14024 also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
14025 available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
14026 @xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
14029 @node Decimal Floating Point
14030 @subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
14031 @cindex decimal floating point format
14033 @value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
14034 decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
14035 @code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
14036 specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
14038 There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
14039 Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
14040 PowerPC and S/390. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the
14043 Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
14044 to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
14045 (using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
14047 In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
14048 point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
14049 underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
14051 In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
14052 to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
14053 See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
14059 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in D and compiled with
14060 GDC, LDC or DMD compilers. Currently @value{GDBN} supports only one D
14061 specific feature --- dynamic arrays.
14066 @cindex Go (programming language)
14067 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Go and compiled with
14068 @file{gccgo} or @file{6g} compilers.
14070 Here is a summary of the Go-specific features and restrictions:
14073 @cindex current Go package
14074 @item The current Go package
14075 The name of the current package does not need to be specified when
14076 specifying global variables and functions.
14078 For example, given the program:
14082 var myglob = "Shall we?"
14088 When stopped inside @code{main} either of these work:
14092 (gdb) p main.myglob
14095 @cindex builtin Go types
14096 @item Builtin Go types
14097 The @code{string} type is recognized by @value{GDBN} and is printed
14100 @cindex builtin Go functions
14101 @item Builtin Go functions
14102 The @value{GDBN} expression parser recognizes the @code{unsafe.Sizeof}
14103 function and handles it internally.
14105 @cindex restrictions on Go expressions
14106 @item Restrictions on Go expressions
14107 All Go operators are supported except @code{&^}.
14108 The Go @code{_} ``blank identifier'' is not supported.
14109 Automatic dereferencing of pointers is not supported.
14113 @subsection Objective-C
14115 @cindex Objective-C
14116 This section provides information about some commands and command
14117 options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
14118 @ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
14119 few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
14122 * Method Names in Commands::
14123 * The Print Command with Objective-C::
14126 @node Method Names in Commands
14127 @subsubsection Method Names in Commands
14129 The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
14130 names as line specifications:
14132 @kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
14133 @kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
14134 @kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
14135 @kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
14136 @kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
14140 @item @code{info line}
14145 A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
14148 -[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
14151 where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
14152 plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
14153 name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
14154 brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
14155 source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
14156 instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
14160 break -[Fruit create]
14163 To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
14167 list +[NSText initialize]
14170 In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
14171 required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
14172 sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
14173 is also possible to specify just a method name:
14179 You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
14180 your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
14181 you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
14182 method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
14185 As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
14186 @code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
14189 clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
14192 @node The Print Command with Objective-C
14193 @subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
14194 @cindex Objective-C, print objects
14195 @kindex print-object
14196 @kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
14198 The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
14201 print -[@var{object} hash]
14204 @cindex print an Objective-C object description
14205 @cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
14207 will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
14208 and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
14209 @code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
14210 the description of an object. However, this command may only work
14211 with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
14212 function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
14215 @subsection OpenCL C
14218 This section provides information about @value{GDBN}s OpenCL C support.
14221 * OpenCL C Datatypes::
14222 * OpenCL C Expressions::
14223 * OpenCL C Operators::
14226 @node OpenCL C Datatypes
14227 @subsubsection OpenCL C Datatypes
14229 @cindex OpenCL C Datatypes
14230 @value{GDBN} supports the builtin scalar and vector datatypes specified
14231 by OpenCL 1.1. In addition the half- and double-precision floating point
14232 data types of the @code{cl_khr_fp16} and @code{cl_khr_fp64} OpenCL
14233 extensions are also known to @value{GDBN}.
14235 @node OpenCL C Expressions
14236 @subsubsection OpenCL C Expressions
14238 @cindex OpenCL C Expressions
14239 @value{GDBN} supports accesses to vector components including the access as
14240 lvalue where possible. Since OpenCL C is based on C99 most C expressions
14241 supported by @value{GDBN} can be used as well.
14243 @node OpenCL C Operators
14244 @subsubsection OpenCL C Operators
14246 @cindex OpenCL C Operators
14247 @value{GDBN} supports the operators specified by OpenCL 1.1 for scalar and
14251 @subsection Fortran
14252 @cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
14254 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
14255 currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
14257 @cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
14258 Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
14259 among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
14260 functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
14261 will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
14265 * Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
14266 * Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
14267 * Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
14270 @node Fortran Operators
14271 @subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
14273 @cindex Fortran operators and expressions
14275 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
14276 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
14277 arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
14281 The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
14285 The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
14286 represent a section of array.
14289 The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
14290 types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
14291 this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
14295 @node Fortran Defaults
14296 @subsubsection Fortran Defaults
14298 @cindex Fortran Defaults
14300 Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
14301 default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
14302 change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
14303 @ref{Symbols}, for the details.
14305 @node Special Fortran Commands
14306 @subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
14308 @cindex Special Fortran commands
14310 @value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
14311 such as displaying common blocks.
14314 @cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
14315 @kindex info common
14316 @item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
14317 This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
14318 block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
14319 all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
14326 @cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
14327 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
14328 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
14329 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
14332 The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
14333 controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
14334 @xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
14337 @subsection Modula-2
14339 @cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
14341 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
14342 output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
14343 developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
14344 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
14345 to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
14348 @cindex expressions in Modula-2
14350 * M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
14351 * Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
14352 * M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
14353 * M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
14354 * M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
14355 * Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
14356 * M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
14357 * M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
14358 * GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
14362 @subsubsection Operators
14363 @cindex Modula-2 operators
14365 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
14366 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
14367 often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
14368 following definitions hold:
14373 @emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
14377 @emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
14380 @emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
14383 @emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
14387 @emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
14390 @emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
14393 @emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
14397 The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
14398 increasing precedence:
14402 Function argument or array index separator.
14405 Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
14409 Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
14413 Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
14414 on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
14415 set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
14417 @item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
14418 Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
14419 Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
14420 available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
14424 Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
14425 Same precedence as @code{<}.
14428 Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
14431 Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
14434 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
14437 Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
14438 and difference on set types.
14441 Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
14445 Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
14446 types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
14449 Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
14450 precedence as @code{*}.
14453 Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
14456 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
14459 Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
14463 @code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
14464 precedence as @code{^}.
14467 Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
14470 Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
14474 @value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
14478 @emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
14479 treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
14480 @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
14481 @code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
14485 @node Built-In Func/Proc
14486 @subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
14487 @cindex Modula-2 built-ins
14489 Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
14490 In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
14495 represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
14498 represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
14501 represents a variable or constant of integral type.
14504 represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
14505 same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
14506 be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
14509 represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
14512 represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
14518 represents a variable.
14521 represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
14522 explanation of the function for details.
14525 All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
14529 Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
14532 If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
14533 equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
14536 Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
14539 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
14541 @item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
14542 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
14545 @item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
14546 Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
14549 @item FLOAT(@var{i})
14550 Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
14552 @item HIGH(@var{a})
14553 Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
14556 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
14558 @item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
14559 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
14562 @item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
14563 Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
14564 there. Returns the new set.
14567 Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
14570 Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
14573 Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
14576 Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
14577 value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
14578 @sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
14579 integral, character and enumerated types.
14581 @item SIZE(@var{x})
14582 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
14584 @item TRUNC(@var{r})
14585 Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
14587 @item TSIZE(@var{x})
14588 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
14590 @item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
14591 Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
14595 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
14596 @value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
14600 @cindex Modula-2 constants
14602 @subsubsection Constants
14604 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
14610 Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
14611 expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
14612 rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
14613 trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
14616 Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
14617 decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
14618 then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
14619 @samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
14620 digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
14624 Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
14625 like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
14626 also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
14627 followed by a @samp{C}.
14630 String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
14631 pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
14632 Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
14633 Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
14637 Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
14640 Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
14644 Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
14647 Set constants are not yet supported.
14651 @subsubsection Modula-2 Types
14652 @cindex Modula-2 types
14654 Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
14655 syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
14656 types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
14657 print the contents of variables declared using these type.
14658 This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
14659 sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
14661 The first example contains the following section of code:
14670 and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
14671 @code{r} and @code{s}.
14674 (@value{GDBP}) print s
14676 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14678 (@value{GDBP}) print r
14680 (@value{GDBP}) ptype r
14685 Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
14689 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
14693 then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
14696 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14697 type = SET ['A'..'Z']
14701 Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
14702 expressions using the debugger.
14704 The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
14705 and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
14709 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
14713 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14714 ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
14717 Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
14718 is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
14719 arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
14722 Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
14726 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
14727 t = [blue..yellow] ;
14735 The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
14736 and value of a variable.
14739 (@value{GDBP}) print s
14741 (@value{GDBP}) ptype t
14742 type = [blue..yellow]
14746 In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
14747 displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
14748 their @code{C} counterparts.
14752 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
14758 (@value{GDBP}) print s
14759 $1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
14760 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14761 type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
14764 The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
14765 pointer types as shown in this example:
14769 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
14776 and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
14779 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14780 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
14783 @value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
14784 Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
14795 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
14796 myrange = [-2..2] ;
14798 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
14802 and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
14806 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
14807 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
14810 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
14815 @subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
14816 @cindex Modula-2 defaults
14818 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
14819 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
14820 Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
14821 selected the working language.
14823 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
14824 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
14825 working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
14826 Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
14829 @subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
14830 @cindex Modula-2, deviations from
14832 A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
14833 This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
14837 Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
14838 integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
14839 debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
14840 pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
14841 through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
14842 returned a pointer.)
14845 C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
14846 non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
14847 escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
14848 printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
14851 The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
14855 All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
14859 @subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
14860 @cindex Modula-2 checks
14863 @emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
14866 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
14868 @value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
14872 They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
14873 @var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
14876 They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
14877 @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
14880 As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
14881 whose types are not equivalent is an error.
14883 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
14884 index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
14887 @subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
14889 @cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
14890 @cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
14892 @vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
14893 @c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
14896 @vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
14899 There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
14900 (@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
14905 @var{module} . @var{id}
14906 @var{scope} :: @var{id}
14910 where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
14911 @var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
14912 identifier within your program, except another module.
14914 Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
14915 specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
14916 found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
14917 enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
14919 Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
14920 the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
14921 definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
14922 an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
14923 module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
14927 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
14929 Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
14930 Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
14931 specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
14932 @samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
14933 apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
14934 analogue in Modula-2.
14936 The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
14937 with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
14938 intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
14939 created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
14940 address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
14941 @samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
14943 @cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
14944 In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
14945 interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
14951 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
14952 output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
14953 Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
14954 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
14958 @cindex expressions in Ada
14960 * Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
14961 and semantics supported by Ada mode
14963 * Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
14964 * Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
14965 * Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
14966 * Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
14967 * Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
14968 * Ravenscar Profile:: Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar
14970 * Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
14973 @node Ada Mode Intro
14974 @subsubsection Introduction
14975 @cindex Ada mode, general
14977 The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
14978 syntax, with some extensions.
14979 The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
14983 That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
14984 arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
14985 leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
14986 program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
14989 That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
14990 are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
14993 That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
14996 Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
14997 user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
14998 according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
14999 names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
15000 ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
15002 The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
15003 As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
15004 was translated from an Ada source file.
15006 While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
15007 mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
15008 (@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
15009 middle (to allow based literals).
15011 The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
15012 the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
15013 actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
15014 the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
15015 procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
15016 functions to procedures elsewhere.
15018 @node Omissions from Ada
15019 @subsubsection Omissions from Ada
15020 @cindex Ada, omissions from
15022 Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
15026 Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
15030 @t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
15031 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
15034 @t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
15037 @t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
15043 @t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
15044 operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
15047 @t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
15048 @t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
15056 @code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
15057 concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
15058 not currently available.
15061 Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
15062 equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
15063 for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
15064 They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
15065 types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
15066 (in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
15067 zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
15068 indeterminate values.
15071 The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
15072 @code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
15073 are not implemented.
15076 @cindex array aggregates (Ada)
15077 @cindex record aggregates (Ada)
15078 @cindex aggregates (Ada)
15079 There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
15080 permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
15083 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
15084 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
15085 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
15086 (@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
15087 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
15088 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
15092 discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
15093 undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
15094 However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
15095 them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
15096 aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
15097 declared to have a type such as:
15100 type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
15102 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
15106 you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
15110 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
15111 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
15114 As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
15115 rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
15116 components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
15117 component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
15118 original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
15119 indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
15120 redundant component associations, although which component values are
15121 assigned in such cases is not defined.
15124 Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
15127 The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
15128 than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
15129 which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
15130 looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
15131 function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
15132 the proper resolution.
15135 The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
15138 Entry calls are not implemented.
15141 Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
15142 formats are not supported.
15145 It is not possible to slice a packed array.
15148 The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
15149 are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
15151 Should your program
15152 redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
15153 you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
15156 @node Additions to Ada
15157 @subsubsection Additions to Ada
15158 @cindex Ada, deviations from
15160 As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
15161 extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
15165 If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
15166 a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
15167 then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
15168 @var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
15169 Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
15170 in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
15171 Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
15172 which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
15175 @code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
15176 appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
15177 you must typically surround it in single quotes.
15180 The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
15181 @var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
15184 A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
15185 (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
15188 In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
15189 additions specific to Ada:
15193 The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
15194 its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
15197 (@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
15198 (@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
15202 The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
15203 the value of its right-hand operand.
15204 This allows, for example,
15205 complex conditional breaks:
15208 (@value{GDBP}) break f
15209 (@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
15213 Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
15214 characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
15215 which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
15216 @samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
15217 (single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
15218 sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
15219 in strings. For example,
15221 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
15224 contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
15228 The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
15229 @t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
15233 (@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
15237 When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
15238 array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
15239 For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
15240 of 3 might print as
15247 That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
15251 You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
15252 multi-character subsequence of
15253 their names (an exact match gets preference).
15254 For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
15255 in place of @t{a'length}.
15258 @cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
15259 Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
15260 to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
15261 some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
15262 For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
15263 enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
15266 (@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
15270 Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
15271 access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
15272 specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
15273 selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
15278 @node Stopping Before Main Program
15279 @subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
15281 @cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
15282 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
15283 before reaching the main procedure.
15284 As defined in the Ada Reference
15285 Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
15286 @code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
15287 elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
15288 @code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
15291 @subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
15292 @cindex Ada, tasking
15294 Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
15295 @value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
15300 This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
15307 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15308 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15309 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15310 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
15311 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
15312 * 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
15317 In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
15318 task currently being inspected.
15322 Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
15328 The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
15331 The base priority of the task.
15334 Current state of the task.
15338 The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
15342 The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
15343 for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
15346 The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
15347 that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
15348 terminated themselves.
15350 @item Child Activation Wait
15351 The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
15353 @item Accept Statement
15354 The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
15356 @item Waiting on entry call
15357 The task is waiting on an entry call.
15359 @item Async Select Wait
15360 The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
15364 The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
15367 @item Child Termination Wait
15368 The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
15369 waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
15370 waiting on a terminate Phase.
15372 @item Wait Child in Term Alt
15373 The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
15374 finish terminating.
15376 @item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
15377 The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
15381 Name of the task in the program.
15385 @kindex info task @var{taskno}
15386 @item info task @var{taskno}
15387 This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
15388 the following example:
15393 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15394 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15395 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15396 * 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
15397 (@value{GDBP}) info task 2
15398 Ada Task: 0x807c468
15401 Parent: 1 (main_task)
15407 @kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
15408 @cindex current Ada task ID
15409 This command prints the ID of the current task.
15415 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15416 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15417 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15418 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
15419 (@value{GDBP}) task
15420 [Current task is 2]
15423 @item task @var{taskno}
15424 @cindex Ada task switching
15425 This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
15426 command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
15427 from the current task to the given task.
15433 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15434 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15435 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15436 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
15437 (@value{GDBP}) task 1
15438 [Switching to task 1]
15439 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
15441 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
15442 #1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
15443 #2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
15444 #3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
15445 #4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
15448 @item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
15449 @itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
15450 @cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
15451 @cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
15452 @kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
15453 These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
15454 command (@pxref{Thread Stops}).
15455 @var{linespec} specifies source lines, as described
15456 in @ref{Specify Location}.
15458 Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
15459 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
15460 particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. @var{taskno} is one of the
15461 numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
15462 column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
15464 If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
15465 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
15468 You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
15469 well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
15470 breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
15478 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15479 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15480 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15481 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
15482 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
15483 * 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
15484 (@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
15485 Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
15486 (@value{GDBP}) cont
15491 Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
15493 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
15494 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
15495 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
15496 * 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
15497 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
15498 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
15502 @node Ada Tasks and Core Files
15503 @subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
15504 @cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
15506 When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
15507 tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
15508 the platform being used.
15509 For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
15510 switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
15513 On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
15514 memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
15515 a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
15516 privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
15517 Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
15518 file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
15520 @node Ravenscar Profile
15521 @subsubsection Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar Profile
15522 @cindex Ravenscar Profile
15524 The @dfn{Ravenscar Profile} is a subset of the Ada tasking features,
15525 specifically designed for systems with safety-critical real-time
15529 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching on
15530 @cindex task switching with program using Ravenscar Profile
15531 @item set ravenscar task-switching on
15532 Allows task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
15533 Profile. This is the default.
15535 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching off
15536 @item set ravenscar task-switching off
15537 Turn off task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
15538 Profile. This is mostly intended to disable the code that adds support
15539 for the Ravenscar Profile, in case a bug in either @value{GDBN} or in
15540 the Ravenscar runtime is preventing @value{GDBN} from working properly.
15541 To be effective, this command should be run before the program is started.
15543 @kindex show ravenscar task-switching
15544 @item show ravenscar task-switching
15545 Show whether it is possible to switch from task to task in a program
15546 using the Ravenscar Profile.
15551 @subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
15552 @cindex Ada, problems
15554 Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
15555 we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
15557 some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
15558 and the GNU Ada compiler.
15562 Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
15563 storage are invisible to the debugger.
15566 Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
15567 argument lists are treated as positional).
15570 Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
15573 Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
15574 floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
15578 The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
15579 the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
15580 this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
15581 look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
15582 symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
15583 defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
15584 local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
15585 GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
15586 you can usually resolve the confusion
15587 by qualifying the problematic names with package
15588 @code{Standard} explicitly.
15591 Older versions of the compiler sometimes generate erroneous debugging
15592 information, resulting in the debugger incorrectly printing the value
15593 of affected entities. In some cases, the debugger is able to work
15594 around an issue automatically. In other cases, the debugger is able
15595 to work around the issue, but the work-around has to be specifically
15598 @kindex set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
15599 @kindex show ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
15602 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS on
15603 Configure GDB to strictly follow the GNAT encoding when computing the
15604 value of Ada entities, particularly when @code{PAD} and @code{PAD___XVS}
15605 types are involved (see @code{ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources for
15606 a complete description of the encoding used by the GNAT compiler).
15607 This is the default.
15609 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS off
15610 This is related to the encoding using by the GNAT compiler. If @value{GDBN}
15611 sometimes prints the wrong value for certain entities, changing @code{ada
15612 trust-PAD-over-XVS} to @code{off} activates a work-around which may fix
15613 the issue. It is always safe to set @code{ada trust-PAD-over-XVS} to
15614 @code{off}, but this incurs a slight performance penalty, so it is
15615 recommended to leave this setting to @code{on} unless necessary.
15619 @node Unsupported Languages
15620 @section Unsupported Languages
15622 @cindex unsupported languages
15623 @cindex minimal language
15624 In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
15625 @value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
15626 It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
15627 of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
15628 This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
15629 an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
15631 If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
15632 select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
15636 @chapter Examining the Symbol Table
15638 The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
15639 symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
15640 program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
15641 does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
15642 program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
15643 (@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
15644 file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
15646 @cindex symbol names
15647 @cindex names of symbols
15648 @cindex quoting names
15649 Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
15650 characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
15651 most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
15652 source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
15653 are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
15654 ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
15655 @samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
15656 @samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
15663 looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
15666 @cindex case-insensitive symbol names
15667 @cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
15668 @kindex set case-sensitive
15669 @item set case-sensitive on
15670 @itemx set case-sensitive off
15671 @itemx set case-sensitive auto
15672 Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
15673 with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
15674 Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
15675 case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
15676 case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
15677 you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
15678 suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
15679 matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
15680 case-insensitive matches.
15682 @kindex show case-sensitive
15683 @item show case-sensitive
15684 This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
15687 @kindex set print type methods
15688 @item set print type methods
15689 @itemx set print type methods on
15690 @itemx set print type methods off
15691 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a class, it displays any methods
15692 declared in that class. You can control this behavior either by
15693 passing the appropriate flag to @code{ptype}, or using @command{set
15694 print type methods}. Specifying @code{on} will cause @value{GDBN} to
15695 display the methods; this is the default. Specifying @code{off} will
15696 cause @value{GDBN} to omit the methods.
15698 @kindex show print type methods
15699 @item show print type methods
15700 This command shows the current setting of method display when printing
15703 @kindex set print type typedefs
15704 @item set print type typedefs
15705 @itemx set print type typedefs on
15706 @itemx set print type typedefs off
15708 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a class, it displays any typedefs
15709 defined in that class. You can control this behavior either by
15710 passing the appropriate flag to @code{ptype}, or using @command{set
15711 print type typedefs}. Specifying @code{on} will cause @value{GDBN} to
15712 display the typedef definitions; this is the default. Specifying
15713 @code{off} will cause @value{GDBN} to omit the typedef definitions.
15714 Note that this controls whether the typedef definition itself is
15715 printed, not whether typedef names are substituted when printing other
15718 @kindex show print type typedefs
15719 @item show print type typedefs
15720 This command shows the current setting of typedef display when
15723 @kindex info address
15724 @cindex address of a symbol
15725 @item info address @var{symbol}
15726 Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
15727 variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
15728 local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
15731 Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
15732 at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
15733 the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
15735 @kindex info symbol
15736 @cindex symbol from address
15737 @cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
15738 @item info symbol @var{addr}
15739 Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
15740 If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
15741 nearest symbol and an offset from it:
15744 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
15745 _initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
15749 This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
15750 it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
15752 For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
15753 library containing the symbol is also printed:
15756 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
15757 _start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
15758 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
15759 __read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
15763 @item whatis[/@var{flags}] [@var{arg}]
15764 Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression
15765 or a name of a data type. With no argument, print the data type of
15766 @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
15768 If @var{arg} is an expression (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), it
15769 is not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
15770 assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place.
15772 If @var{arg} is a variable or an expression, @code{whatis} prints its
15773 literal type as it is used in the source code. If the type was
15774 defined using a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will @emph{not} print
15775 the data type underlying the @code{typedef}. If the type of the
15776 variable or the expression is a compound data type, such as
15777 @code{struct} or @code{class}, @code{whatis} never prints their
15778 fields or methods. It just prints the @code{struct}/@code{class}
15779 name (a.k.a.@: its @dfn{tag}). If you want to see the members of
15780 such a compound data type, use @code{ptype}.
15782 If @var{arg} is a type name that was defined using @code{typedef},
15783 @code{whatis} @dfn{unrolls} only one level of that @code{typedef}.
15784 Unrolling means that @code{whatis} will show the underlying type used
15785 in the @code{typedef} declaration of @var{arg}. However, if that
15786 underlying type is also a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will not
15789 For C code, the type names may also have the form @samp{class
15790 @var{class-name}}, @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union
15791 @var{union-tag}} or @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
15793 @var{flags} can be used to modify how the type is displayed.
15794 Available flags are:
15798 Display in ``raw'' form. Normally, @value{GDBN} substitutes template
15799 parameters and typedefs defined in a class when printing the class'
15800 members. The @code{/r} flag disables this.
15803 Do not print methods defined in the class.
15806 Print methods defined in the class. This is the default, but the flag
15807 exists in case you change the default with @command{set print type methods}.
15810 Do not print typedefs defined in the class. Note that this controls
15811 whether the typedef definition itself is printed, not whether typedef
15812 names are substituted when printing other types.
15815 Print typedefs defined in the class. This is the default, but the flag
15816 exists in case you change the default with @command{set print type typedefs}.
15820 @item ptype[/@var{flags}] [@var{arg}]
15821 @code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
15822 detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
15823 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
15825 Contrary to @code{whatis}, @code{ptype} always unrolls any
15826 @code{typedef}s in its argument declaration, whether the argument is
15827 a variable, expression, or a data type. This means that @code{ptype}
15828 of a variable or an expression will not print literally its type as
15829 present in the source code---use @code{whatis} for that. @code{typedef}s at
15830 the pointer or reference targets are also unrolled. Only @code{typedef}s of
15831 fields, methods and inner @code{class typedef}s of @code{struct}s,
15832 @code{class}es and @code{union}s are not unrolled even with @code{ptype}.
15834 For example, for this variable declaration:
15837 typedef double real_t;
15838 struct complex @{ real_t real; double imag; @};
15839 typedef struct complex complex_t;
15841 real_t *real_pointer_var;
15845 the two commands give this output:
15849 (@value{GDBP}) whatis var
15851 (@value{GDBP}) ptype var
15852 type = struct complex @{
15856 (@value{GDBP}) whatis complex_t
15857 type = struct complex
15858 (@value{GDBP}) whatis struct complex
15859 type = struct complex
15860 (@value{GDBP}) ptype struct complex
15861 type = struct complex @{
15865 (@value{GDBP}) whatis real_pointer_var
15867 (@value{GDBP}) ptype real_pointer_var
15873 As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
15874 the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
15876 @cindex incomplete type
15877 Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
15878 of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
15879 program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
15880 the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
15881 given these declarations:
15885 struct foo *fooptr;
15889 but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
15892 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
15893 $1 = <incomplete type>
15897 ``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
15898 completely specified.
15901 @item info types @var{regexp}
15903 Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
15904 expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
15905 no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
15906 complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
15907 types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
15908 @samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
15909 name is @code{value}.
15911 This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
15912 @code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
15913 lists all source files where a type is defined.
15915 @kindex info type-printers
15916 @item info type-printers
15917 Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled may
15918 have ``type printers'' available. When using @command{ptype} or
15919 @command{whatis}, these printers are consulted when the name of a type
15920 is needed. @xref{Type Printing API}, for more information on writing
15923 @code{info type-printers} displays all the available type printers.
15925 @kindex enable type-printer
15926 @kindex disable type-printer
15927 @item enable type-printer @var{name}@dots{}
15928 @item disable type-printer @var{name}@dots{}
15929 These commands can be used to enable or disable type printers.
15932 @cindex local variables
15933 @item info scope @var{location}
15934 List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
15935 accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
15936 an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
15937 to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
15938 details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
15941 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
15942 Scope for command_line_handler:
15943 Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
15944 Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
15945 Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
15946 Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
15947 Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
15948 Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
15949 Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
15953 This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
15954 during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
15957 @kindex info source
15959 Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
15960 the function containing the current point of execution:
15963 the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
15965 the directory it was compiled in,
15967 its length, in lines,
15969 which programming language it is written in,
15971 whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
15972 if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
15974 whether the debugging information includes information about
15975 preprocessor macros.
15979 @kindex info sources
15981 Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
15982 debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
15983 have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
15985 @kindex info functions
15986 @item info functions
15987 Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
15989 @item info functions @var{regexp}
15990 Print the names and data types of all defined functions
15991 whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
15992 Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
15993 include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
15994 start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
15995 that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
15996 @samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
15998 @kindex info variables
15999 @item info variables
16000 Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
16001 outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
16003 @item info variables @var{regexp}
16004 Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
16005 variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
16008 @kindex info classes
16009 @cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
16011 @itemx info classes @var{regexp}
16012 Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
16013 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
16016 @kindex info selectors
16017 @item info selectors
16018 @itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
16019 Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
16020 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
16024 This was never implemented.
16025 @kindex info methods
16027 @itemx info methods @var{regexp}
16028 The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
16029 methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
16030 specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
16031 C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
16032 from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
16033 @code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
16034 which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
16037 @cindex opaque data types
16038 @kindex set opaque-type-resolution
16039 @item set opaque-type-resolution on
16040 Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
16041 declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
16042 @code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
16043 source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
16044 another source file. The default is on.
16046 A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
16047 the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
16049 @item set opaque-type-resolution off
16050 Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
16051 is printed as follows:
16053 @{<no data fields>@}
16056 @kindex show opaque-type-resolution
16057 @item show opaque-type-resolution
16058 Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
16060 @kindex maint print symbols
16061 @cindex symbol dump
16062 @kindex maint print psymbols
16063 @cindex partial symbol dump
16064 @kindex maint print msymbols
16065 @cindex minimal symbol dump
16066 @item maint print symbols @var{filename}
16067 @itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
16068 @itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
16069 Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
16070 These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
16071 symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
16072 symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
16073 collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
16074 only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
16075 command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
16076 use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
16077 symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
16078 files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
16079 @samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
16080 required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
16081 @xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
16082 @value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
16084 @kindex maint info symtabs
16085 @kindex maint info psymtabs
16086 @cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
16087 @cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
16088 @cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
16089 @cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
16090 @item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
16091 @itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
16093 List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
16094 structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
16095 given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
16096 copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
16097 structure in more detail. For example:
16100 (@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
16101 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
16102 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
16103 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
16104 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
16107 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
16108 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
16109 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
16110 dependencies (none)
16113 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
16117 We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
16118 the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
16119 and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
16120 If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
16121 read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
16124 (@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
16125 Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
16127 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
16128 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
16129 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
16130 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
16131 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
16134 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
16135 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
16136 debugformat DWARF 2
16145 @chapter Altering Execution
16147 Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
16148 find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
16149 correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
16150 experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
16153 For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
16154 locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
16155 address, or even return prematurely from a function.
16158 * Assignment:: Assignment to variables
16159 * Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
16160 * Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
16161 * Returning:: Returning from a function
16162 * Calling:: Calling your program's functions
16163 * Patching:: Patching your program
16167 @section Assignment to Variables
16170 @cindex setting variables
16171 To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
16172 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
16179 stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
16180 value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
16181 @xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
16182 information on operators in supported languages.
16184 @kindex set variable
16185 @cindex variables, setting
16186 If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
16187 @code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
16188 really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
16189 not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
16190 ,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
16192 If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
16193 appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
16194 variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
16195 to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
16196 program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
16197 a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
16198 command @code{set width}:
16201 (@value{GDBP}) whatis width
16203 (@value{GDBP}) p width
16205 (@value{GDBP}) set width=47
16206 Invalid syntax in expression.
16210 The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
16211 order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
16214 (@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
16217 Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
16218 with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
16219 @code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
16220 your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
16221 to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
16222 the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
16226 (@value{GDBP}) whatis g
16230 (@value{GDBP}) set g=4
16234 The program being debugged has been started already.
16235 Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
16236 Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
16237 "/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
16238 Invalid bfd target.
16239 (@value{GDBP}) show g
16240 The current BFD target is "=4".
16245 The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
16246 @code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
16250 (@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
16253 @value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
16254 freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
16255 and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
16256 same length or shorter.
16257 @comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
16260 To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
16261 construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
16262 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
16263 to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
16264 and representation in memory), and
16267 set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
16271 stores the value 4 into that memory location.
16274 @section Continuing at a Different Address
16276 Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
16277 it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
16278 an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
16282 @kindex j @r{(@code{jump})}
16283 @item jump @var{linespec}
16284 @itemx j @var{linespec}
16285 @itemx jump @var{location}
16286 @itemx j @var{location}
16287 Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
16288 @var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
16289 breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
16290 different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
16291 practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
16292 @code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
16294 The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
16295 the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
16296 register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
16297 a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
16298 be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
16299 of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
16300 confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
16301 executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
16302 well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
16305 @c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
16306 On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
16307 command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
16308 difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
16309 changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
16317 makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
16318 address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
16319 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
16321 The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
16322 up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
16323 that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
16328 @section Giving your Program a Signal
16329 @cindex deliver a signal to a program
16333 @item signal @var{signal}
16334 Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
16335 signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
16336 signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
16337 SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
16339 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
16340 giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
16341 a signal and would ordinarily see the signal when resumed with the
16342 @code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
16345 @code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
16346 after executing the command.
16350 Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
16351 @code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
16352 causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
16353 the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
16354 passes the signal directly to your program.
16358 @section Returning from a Function
16361 @cindex returning from a function
16364 @itemx return @var{expression}
16365 You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
16366 command. If you give an
16367 @var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
16371 When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
16372 (and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
16373 discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
16374 be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
16376 This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
16377 Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
16378 innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
16379 specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
16382 The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
16383 program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
16384 returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
16385 and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
16386 selected stack frame returns naturally.
16388 @value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
16389 the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
16390 type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
16391 OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
16392 CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
16393 registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
16394 specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
16395 current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
16396 assignment into the right register(s).
16398 Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
16399 use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
16400 debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
16401 function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
16402 int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
16403 into a @code{long long int}:
16406 Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
16408 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
16409 Make func return now? (y or n) y
16410 #0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
16411 43 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
16415 However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
16416 function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
16417 to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
16418 in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
16419 typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
16420 of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
16421 architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
16422 an appropriate cast explicitly:
16425 Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
16426 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
16427 Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
16428 Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
16429 (@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
16430 Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
16431 #0 0x00400526 in main ()
16436 @section Calling Program Functions
16439 @cindex calling functions
16440 @cindex inferior functions, calling
16441 @item print @var{expr}
16442 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
16443 @var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
16447 @item call @var{expr}
16448 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
16451 You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
16452 execute a function from your program that does not return anything
16453 (a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
16454 with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
16455 print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
16459 It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
16460 @code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
16461 the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
16462 in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
16464 Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
16465 call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
16466 exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
16467 frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
16468 an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
16469 dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
16470 seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
16471 in that case is controlled by the
16472 @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
16475 @item set unwindonsignal
16476 @kindex set unwindonsignal
16477 @cindex unwind stack in called functions
16478 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding
16479 Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
16480 that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
16481 @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
16482 the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
16483 default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
16486 @item show unwindonsignal
16487 @kindex show unwindonsignal
16488 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
16491 @item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
16492 @kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
16493 @cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
16494 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
16495 Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
16496 unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
16497 debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
16498 it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
16499 the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
16500 the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
16502 @item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
16503 @kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
16504 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
16509 @cindex weak alias functions
16510 Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
16511 for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
16512 the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
16513 which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
16514 As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
16515 even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
16519 @section Patching Programs
16521 @cindex patching binaries
16522 @cindex writing into executables
16523 @cindex writing into corefiles
16525 By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
16526 executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
16527 alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
16528 patching your program's binary.
16530 If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
16531 explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
16532 want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
16538 @itemx set write off
16539 If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
16540 core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
16541 off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
16543 If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
16544 @code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
16545 write}, for your new setting to take effect.
16549 Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
16550 as well as reading.
16554 @chapter @value{GDBN} Files
16556 @value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
16557 both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
16558 program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
16559 @value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
16562 * Files:: Commands to specify files
16563 * Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
16564 * MiniDebugInfo:: Debugging information in a special section
16565 * Index Files:: Index files speed up GDB
16566 * Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
16567 * Data Files:: GDB data files
16571 @section Commands to Specify Files
16573 @cindex symbol table
16574 @cindex core dump file
16576 You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
16577 way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
16578 @value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
16579 Out of @value{GDBN}}).
16581 Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
16582 @value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
16583 specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
16584 via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
16585 Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
16586 new files are useful.
16589 @cindex executable file
16591 @item file @var{filename}
16592 Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
16593 symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
16594 executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
16595 directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
16596 @value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
16597 directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
16598 to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
16599 and your program, using the @code{path} command.
16601 @cindex unlinked object files
16602 @cindex patching object files
16603 You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
16604 the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
16605 file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
16606 if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
16607 @kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
16608 that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
16609 case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
16610 the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
16613 @code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
16614 has on both executable file and the symbol table.
16617 @item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
16618 Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
16619 in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
16620 if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
16621 discard information on the executable file.
16623 @kindex symbol-file
16624 @item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
16625 Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
16626 searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
16627 table and program to run from the same file.
16629 @code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
16630 program's symbol table.
16632 The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
16633 some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
16634 contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
16635 which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
16638 @code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
16641 When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
16642 understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
16643 generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
16644 other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
16645 Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
16646 using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
16649 For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
16650 using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
16651 symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
16652 quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
16653 details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
16655 The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
16656 start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
16657 occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
16658 file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
16659 pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
16660 Warnings and Messages}.)
16662 We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
16663 symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
16664 symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
16665 still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
16669 @cindex reading symbols immediately
16670 @cindex symbols, reading immediately
16671 @item symbol-file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
16672 @itemx file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
16673 You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
16674 tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
16675 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
16676 entire symbol table available.
16678 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
16679 @c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
16680 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
16681 @c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
16682 @c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
16683 @c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
16687 @item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
16689 Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
16690 of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
16691 address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
16692 executable file itself for other parts.
16694 @code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
16697 Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
16698 under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
16699 wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
16700 the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
16701 (@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
16703 @kindex add-symbol-file
16704 @cindex dynamic linking
16705 @item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
16706 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
16707 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} -s @var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
16708 The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
16709 information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
16710 when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
16711 into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
16712 address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
16713 this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
16714 of @samp{-s @var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
16715 section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
16716 @var{address} as an expression.
16718 The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
16719 originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
16720 @code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
16721 thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
16722 instead, use the @code{symbol-file} command without any arguments.
16724 @cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
16725 @cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
16726 @cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
16727 @cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
16728 @cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
16729 Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
16730 executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
16731 relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
16732 information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
16736 the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
16737 that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
16739 every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
16740 been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
16742 you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
16743 provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
16747 Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
16748 relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
16749 typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
16750 important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
16751 procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
16752 assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
16753 general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
16754 relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
16755 as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
16758 @code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
16760 @kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
16761 @cindex @code{syscall DSO}
16762 @cindex load symbols from memory
16763 @item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
16764 Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
16765 object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
16766 For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
16767 process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
16768 some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
16769 evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
16770 For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
16771 @code{exec-file} commands in advance.
16773 @kindex add-shared-symbol-files
16775 @item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
16776 @itemx assf @var{library-file}
16777 The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
16778 in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
16779 alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
16780 @value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
16781 @value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
16782 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
16783 library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
16784 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
16787 @item section @var{section} @var{addr}
16788 The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
16789 @var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
16790 exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
16791 @code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
16792 itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
16793 @code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
16797 @kindex info target
16800 @code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
16801 current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
16802 including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
16803 use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
16804 command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
16807 @kindex maint info sections
16808 @item maint info sections
16809 Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
16810 is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
16811 displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
16812 offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
16813 @code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
16814 may be arbitrarily combined):
16818 Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
16819 @item @var{sections}
16820 Display info only for named @var{sections}.
16821 @item @var{section-flags}
16822 Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
16823 The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
16826 Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
16827 Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
16829 Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
16830 Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
16832 Section needs to be relocated before loading.
16834 Section cannot be modified by the child process.
16836 Section contains executable code only.
16838 Section contains data only (no executable code).
16840 Section will reside in ROM.
16842 Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
16844 Section is not empty.
16846 An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
16847 @item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
16848 A notification to the linker that the section contains
16849 COFF shared library information.
16851 Section contains common symbols.
16854 @kindex set trust-readonly-sections
16855 @cindex read-only sections
16856 @item set trust-readonly-sections on
16857 Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
16858 really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
16859 In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
16860 out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
16861 For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
16862 enhancement to debugging performance.
16864 The default is off.
16866 @item set trust-readonly-sections off
16867 Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
16868 the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
16869 and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
16871 @item show trust-readonly-sections
16872 Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
16875 All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
16876 as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
16877 name and remembers it that way.
16879 @cindex shared libraries
16880 @anchor{Shared Libraries}
16881 @value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
16882 and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
16884 On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
16885 shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
16887 @value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
16888 when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
16889 (Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
16890 references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
16891 debugging a core file).
16893 On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
16894 automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
16896 @c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
16897 @c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
16898 @c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
16900 There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
16901 symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
16902 particularly large or there are many of them.
16904 To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
16908 @kindex set auto-solib-add
16909 @item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
16910 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
16911 will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
16912 attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
16913 informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
16914 is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
16915 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
16917 @cindex memory used for symbol tables
16918 If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
16919 takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
16920 memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
16921 symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
16922 auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
16923 library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
16924 @var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
16925 the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
16927 @kindex show auto-solib-add
16928 @item show auto-solib-add
16929 Display the current autoloading mode.
16932 @cindex load shared library
16933 To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
16937 @kindex info sharedlibrary
16939 @item info share @var{regex}
16940 @itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
16941 Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
16942 that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
16943 all shared libraries that are loaded.
16945 @kindex sharedlibrary
16947 @item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
16948 @itemx share @var{regex}
16949 Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
16950 Unix regular expression.
16951 As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
16952 required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
16953 @var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
16956 @item nosharedlibrary
16957 @kindex nosharedlibrary
16958 @cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
16959 Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
16960 that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
16961 libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
16965 Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
16966 when any of shared library events happen. The best way to do this is
16967 to use @code{catch load} and @code{catch unload} (@pxref{Set
16970 @value{GDBN} also supports the the @code{set stop-on-solib-events}
16971 command for this. This command exists for historical reasons. It is
16972 less useful than setting a catchpoint, because it does not allow for
16973 conditions or commands as a catchpoint does.
16976 @item set stop-on-solib-events
16977 @kindex set stop-on-solib-events
16978 This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
16979 when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
16980 The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
16983 @item show stop-on-solib-events
16984 @kindex show stop-on-solib-events
16985 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
16986 library events happen.
16989 Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
16990 configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
16991 this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
16992 on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
16993 libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
16994 provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
16995 copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
16998 @cindex where to look for shared libraries
16999 For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
17000 libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
17001 may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
17002 to specify the search directories for target libraries.
17005 @cindex prefix for shared library file names
17006 @cindex system root, alternate
17007 @kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
17008 @kindex set sysroot
17009 @item set sysroot @var{path}
17010 Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
17011 absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
17012 runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
17013 target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
17014 libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
17015 the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
17018 If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
17019 retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
17020 supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
17021 command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
17022 The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
17023 (if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
17024 @footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
17025 that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
17026 variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
17028 For targets with an MS-DOS based filesystem, such as MS-Windows and
17029 SymbianOS, @value{GDBN} tries prefixing a few variants of the target
17030 absolute file name with @var{path}. But first, on Unix hosts,
17031 @value{GDBN} converts all backslash directory separators into forward
17032 slashes, because the backslash is not a directory separator on Unix:
17035 c:\foo\bar.dll @result{} c:/foo/bar.dll
17038 Then, @value{GDBN} attempts prefixing the target file name with
17039 @var{path}, and looks for the resulting file name in the host file
17043 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c:/foo/bar.dll
17046 If that does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries removing
17047 the @samp{:} character from the drive spec, both for convenience, and,
17048 for the case of the host file system not supporting file names with
17052 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c/foo/bar.dll
17055 This makes it possible to have a system root that mirrors a target
17056 with more than one drive. E.g., you may want to setup your local
17057 copies of the target system shared libraries like so (note @samp{c} vs
17061 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/foo.dll}
17062 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/bar.dll}
17063 @file{/path/to/sysroot/z/sys/bin/bar.dll}
17067 and point the system root at @file{/path/to/sysroot}, so that
17068 @value{GDBN} can find the correct copies of both
17069 @file{c:\sys\bin\foo.dll}, and @file{z:\sys\bin\bar.dll}.
17071 If that still does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries
17072 removing the whole drive spec from the target file name:
17075 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/foo/bar.dll
17078 This last lookup makes it possible to not care about the drive name,
17079 if you don't want or need to.
17081 The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
17084 @cindex default system root
17085 @cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
17086 You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
17087 @samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
17088 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
17089 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
17090 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
17093 @kindex show sysroot
17095 Display the current shared library prefix.
17097 @kindex set solib-search-path
17098 @item set solib-search-path @var{path}
17099 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
17100 directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
17101 is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
17102 path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
17103 use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
17104 @samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
17105 finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
17106 it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
17107 of shared library symbols.
17109 @kindex show solib-search-path
17110 @item show solib-search-path
17111 Display the current shared library search path.
17113 @cindex DOS file-name semantics of file names.
17114 @kindex set target-file-system-kind (unix|dos-based|auto)
17115 @kindex show target-file-system-kind
17116 @item set target-file-system-kind @var{kind}
17117 Set assumed file system kind for target reported file names.
17119 Shared library file names as reported by the target system may not
17120 make sense as is on the system @value{GDBN} is running on. For
17121 example, when remote debugging a target that has MS-DOS based file
17122 system semantics, from a Unix host, the target may be reporting to
17123 @value{GDBN} a list of loaded shared libraries with file names such as
17124 @file{c:\Windows\kernel32.dll}. On Unix hosts, there's no concept of
17125 drive letters, so the @samp{c:\} prefix is not normally understood as
17126 indicating an absolute file name, and neither is the backslash
17127 normally considered a directory separator character. In that case,
17128 the native file system would interpret this whole absolute file name
17129 as a relative file name with no directory components. This would make
17130 it impossible to point @value{GDBN} at a copy of the remote target's
17131 shared libraries on the host using @code{set sysroot}, and impractical
17132 with @code{set solib-search-path}. Setting
17133 @code{target-file-system-kind} to @code{dos-based} tells @value{GDBN}
17134 to interpret such file names similarly to how the target would, and to
17135 map them to file names valid on @value{GDBN}'s native file system
17136 semantics. The value of @var{kind} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition
17137 to one of the supported file system kinds. In that case, @value{GDBN}
17138 tries to determine the appropriate file system variant based on the
17139 current target's operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the
17140 Current ABI}). The supported file system settings are:
17144 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is of Unix
17145 kind. Only file names starting the forward slash (@samp{/}) character
17146 are considered absolute, and the directory separator character is also
17150 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is DOS based.
17151 File names starting with either a forward slash, or a drive letter
17152 followed by a colon (e.g., @samp{c:}), are considered absolute, and
17153 both the slash (@samp{/}) and the backslash (@samp{\\}) characters are
17154 considered directory separators.
17157 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the file system kind associated with the
17158 target operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
17159 This is the default.
17163 @cindex file name canonicalization
17164 @cindex base name differences
17165 When processing file names provided by the user, @value{GDBN}
17166 frequently needs to compare them to the file names recorded in the
17167 program's debug info. Normally, @value{GDBN} compares just the
17168 @dfn{base names} of the files as strings, which is reasonably fast
17169 even for very large programs. (The base name of a file is the last
17170 portion of its name, after stripping all the leading directories.)
17171 This shortcut in comparison is based upon the assumption that files
17172 cannot have more than one base name. This is usually true, but
17173 references to files that use symlinks or similar filesystem
17174 facilities violate that assumption. If your program records files
17175 using such facilities, or if you provide file names to @value{GDBN}
17176 using symlinks etc., you can set @code{basenames-may-differ} to
17177 @code{true} to instruct @value{GDBN} to completely canonicalize each
17178 pair of file names it needs to compare. This will make file-name
17179 comparisons accurate, but at a price of a significant slowdown.
17182 @item set basenames-may-differ
17183 @kindex set basenames-may-differ
17184 Set whether a source file may have multiple base names.
17186 @item show basenames-may-differ
17187 @kindex show basenames-may-differ
17188 Show whether a source file may have multiple base names.
17191 @node Separate Debug Files
17192 @section Debugging Information in Separate Files
17193 @cindex separate debugging information files
17194 @cindex debugging information in separate files
17195 @cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
17196 @cindex debugging information directory, global
17197 @cindex global debugging information directories
17198 @cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
17199 @cindex @file{.build-id} directory
17201 @value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
17202 file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
17203 @value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
17204 Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
17205 than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
17206 information for their executables in separate files, which users can
17207 install only when they need to debug a problem.
17209 @value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
17214 The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
17215 the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
17216 usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
17217 name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
17218 (e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
17219 debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
17220 checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
17221 the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
17224 The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
17225 also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
17226 only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
17227 for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
17228 this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
17229 command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
17230 The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
17231 explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
17235 Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
17236 uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
17240 For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
17241 the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
17242 directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under each one of the global debug
17243 directories, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
17244 directories of the executable's absolute file name.
17247 For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
17248 @file{.build-id} subdirectory of each one of the global debug directories for
17249 a file named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
17250 first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
17251 are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
17252 hex characters, not 10.)
17255 So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
17256 @file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
17257 file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
17258 @code{abcdef1234}. If the list of the global debug directories includes
17259 @file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
17260 debug information files, in the indicated order:
17264 @file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
17266 @file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
17268 @file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
17270 @file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
17273 @anchor{debug-file-directory}
17274 Global debugging info directories default to what is set by @value{GDBN}
17275 configure option @option{--with-separate-debug-dir}. During @value{GDBN} run
17276 you can also set the global debugging info directories, and view the list
17277 @value{GDBN} is currently using.
17281 @kindex set debug-file-directory
17282 @item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
17283 Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
17284 information files to @var{directory}. Multiple path components can be set
17285 concatenating them by a path separator.
17287 @kindex show debug-file-directory
17288 @item show debug-file-directory
17289 Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
17294 @cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
17295 @cindex debug link sections
17296 A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
17297 @code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
17301 A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
17304 zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
17305 boundary within the section, and
17307 a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
17308 executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
17309 information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
17310 zero as the @var{crc} argument.
17313 Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
17314 contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
17317 @cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
17318 @cindex build ID sections
17319 The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
17320 ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
17321 often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
17322 It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
17323 the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
17324 algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
17325 content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
17326 value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
17327 stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
17329 The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
17330 executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
17331 debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
17332 should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
17333 but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
17334 in an ordinary executable.
17336 The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
17337 @samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
17338 the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
17339 following commands:
17342 @kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
17347 These commands remove the debugging
17348 information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
17349 @file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
17354 The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
17355 behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
17358 @kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
17361 Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
17362 a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
17363 foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
17364 the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
17367 Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
17368 the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
17369 compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
17370 utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
17375 @cindex CRC algorithm definition
17376 The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
17377 IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
17379 @c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
17380 @c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
17381 @c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
17386 <em>x</em><sup>32</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>26</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>23</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>22</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>16</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>12</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>11</sup>
17387 + <em>x</em><sup>10</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>8</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>7</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>5</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>4</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>2</sup> + <em>x</em> + 1
17393 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
17394 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
17398 The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
17399 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
17400 @code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
17401 the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
17404 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
17405 @dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{Remote Protocol,
17406 , @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol}). However in the
17407 case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed @emph{most}
17408 significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so trailing
17409 zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
17411 To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
17412 which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
17413 initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
17414 this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
17417 @kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
17420 gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
17421 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
17423 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
17425 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
17426 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
17427 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
17428 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
17429 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
17430 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
17431 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
17432 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
17433 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
17434 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
17435 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
17436 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
17437 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
17438 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
17439 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
17440 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
17441 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
17442 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
17443 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
17444 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
17445 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
17446 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
17447 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
17448 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
17449 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
17450 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
17451 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
17452 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
17453 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
17454 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
17455 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
17456 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
17457 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
17458 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
17459 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
17460 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
17461 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
17462 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
17463 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
17464 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
17465 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
17466 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
17467 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
17468 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
17469 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
17470 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
17471 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
17472 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
17473 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
17474 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
17475 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
17478 unsigned char *end;
17480 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
17481 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
17482 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
17483 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
17488 This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
17490 @node MiniDebugInfo
17491 @section Debugging information in a special section
17492 @cindex separate debug sections
17493 @cindex @samp{.gnu_debugdata} section
17495 Some systems ship pre-built executables and libraries that have a
17496 special @samp{.gnu_debugdata} section. This feature is called
17497 @dfn{MiniDebugInfo}. This section holds an LZMA-compressed object and
17498 is used to supply extra symbols for backtraces.
17500 The intent of this section is to provide extra minimal debugging
17501 information for use in simple backtraces. It is not intended to be a
17502 replacement for full separate debugging information (@pxref{Separate
17503 Debug Files}). The example below shows the intended use; however,
17504 @value{GDBN} does not currently put restrictions on what sort of
17505 debugging information might be included in the section.
17507 @value{GDBN} has support for this extension. If the section exists,
17508 then it is used provided that no other source of debugging information
17509 can be found, and that @value{GDBN} was configured with LZMA support.
17511 This section can be easily created using @command{objcopy} and other
17512 standard utilities:
17515 # Extract the dynamic symbols from the main binary, there is no need
17516 # to also have these in the normal symbol table.
17517 nm -D @var{binary} --format=posix --defined-only \
17518 | awk '@{ print $1 @}' | sort > dynsyms
17520 # Extract all the text (i.e. function) symbols from the debuginfo.
17521 # (Note that we actually also accept "D" symbols, for the benefit
17522 # of platforms like PowerPC64 that use function descriptors.)
17523 nm @var{binary} --format=posix --defined-only \
17524 | awk '@{ if ($2 == "T" || $2 == "t" || $2 == "D") print $1 @}' \
17527 # Keep all the function symbols not already in the dynamic symbol
17529 comm -13 dynsyms funcsyms > keep_symbols
17531 # Separate full debug info into debug binary.
17532 objcopy --only-keep-debug @var{binary} debug
17534 # Copy the full debuginfo, keeping only a minimal set of symbols and
17535 # removing some unnecessary sections.
17536 objcopy -S --remove-section .gdb_index --remove-section .comment \
17537 --keep-symbols=keep_symbols debug mini_debuginfo
17539 # Drop the full debug info from the original binary.
17540 strip --strip-all -R .comment @var{binary}
17542 # Inject the compressed data into the .gnu_debugdata section of the
17545 objcopy --add-section .gnu_debugdata=mini_debuginfo.xz @var{binary}
17549 @section Index Files Speed Up @value{GDBN}
17550 @cindex index files
17551 @cindex @samp{.gdb_index} section
17553 When @value{GDBN} finds a symbol file, it scans the symbols in the
17554 file in order to construct an internal symbol table. This lets most
17555 @value{GDBN} operations work quickly---at the cost of a delay early
17556 on. For large programs, this delay can be quite lengthy, so
17557 @value{GDBN} provides a way to build an index, which speeds up
17560 The index is stored as a section in the symbol file. @value{GDBN} can
17561 write the index to a file, then you can put it into the symbol file
17562 using @command{objcopy}.
17564 To create an index file, use the @code{save gdb-index} command:
17567 @item save gdb-index @var{directory}
17568 @kindex save gdb-index
17569 Create an index file for each symbol file currently known by
17570 @value{GDBN}. Each file is named after its corresponding symbol file,
17571 with @samp{.gdb-index} appended, and is written into the given
17575 Once you have created an index file you can merge it into your symbol
17576 file, here named @file{symfile}, using @command{objcopy}:
17579 $ objcopy --add-section .gdb_index=symfile.gdb-index \
17580 --set-section-flags .gdb_index=readonly symfile symfile
17583 @value{GDBN} will normally ignore older versions of @file{.gdb_index}
17584 sections that have been deprecated. Usually they are deprecated because
17585 they are missing a new feature or have performance issues.
17586 To tell @value{GDBN} to use a deprecated index section anyway
17587 specify @code{set use-deprecated-index-sections on}.
17588 The default is @code{off}.
17589 This can speed up startup, but may result in some functionality being lost.
17590 @xref{Index Section Format}.
17592 @emph{Warning:} Setting @code{use-deprecated-index-sections} to @code{on}
17593 must be done before gdb reads the file. The following will not work:
17596 $ gdb -ex "set use-deprecated-index-sections on" <program>
17599 Instead you must do, for example,
17602 $ gdb -iex "set use-deprecated-index-sections on" <program>
17605 There are currently some limitation on indices. They only work when
17606 for DWARF debugging information, not stabs. And, they do not
17607 currently work for programs using Ada.
17609 @node Symbol Errors
17610 @section Errors Reading Symbol Files
17612 While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
17613 such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
17614 output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
17615 they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
17616 debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
17617 about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
17618 only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
17619 times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
17620 to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
17621 complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
17624 The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
17627 @item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
17629 The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
17630 (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
17631 error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
17632 in its outer scope blocks.
17634 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
17635 the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
17636 may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
17639 @item block at @var{address} out of order
17641 The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
17642 order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
17645 @value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
17646 locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
17647 can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
17648 @code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
17651 @item bad block start address patched
17653 The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
17654 smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
17655 to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
17657 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
17658 starting on the previous source line.
17660 @item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
17663 Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
17664 larger than the size of the string table.
17666 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
17667 name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
17670 @item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
17672 The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
17673 not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
17674 uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
17676 @value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
17677 This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
17678 are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
17679 debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
17680 on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
17681 and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
17683 @item stub type has NULL name
17685 @value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
17687 @item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
17688 The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
17689 information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
17692 @item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
17694 @value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
17699 @section GDB Data Files
17701 @cindex prefix for data files
17702 @value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
17703 are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
17705 You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
17706 is currently using.
17709 @kindex set data-directory
17710 @item set data-directory @var{directory}
17711 Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
17712 to @var{directory}.
17714 @kindex show data-directory
17715 @item show data-directory
17716 Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
17719 @cindex default data directory
17720 @cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
17721 You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
17722 @samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
17723 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
17724 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
17725 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
17728 The data directory may also be specified with the
17729 @code{--data-directory} command line option.
17730 @xref{Mode Options}.
17733 @chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
17735 @cindex debugging target
17736 A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
17738 Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
17739 in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
17740 you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
17741 flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
17742 host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
17743 realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
17744 command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
17745 (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
17747 @cindex target architecture
17748 It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
17749 architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
17750 one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
17754 @kindex set architecture
17755 @kindex show architecture
17756 @item set architecture @var{arch}
17757 This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
17758 value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
17759 supported architectures.
17761 @item show architecture
17762 Show the current target architecture.
17764 @item set processor
17766 @kindex set processor
17767 @kindex show processor
17768 These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
17769 and @code{show architecture}.
17773 * Active Targets:: Active targets
17774 * Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
17775 * Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
17778 @node Active Targets
17779 @section Active Targets
17781 @cindex stacking targets
17782 @cindex active targets
17783 @cindex multiple targets
17785 There are multiple classes of targets such as: processes, executable files or
17786 recording sessions. Core files belong to the process class, making core file
17787 and process mutually exclusive. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} can work concurrently
17788 on multiple active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for
17789 example) start a process and inspect its activity, while still having access to
17790 the executable file after the process finishes. Or if you start process
17791 recording (@pxref{Reverse Execution}) and @code{reverse-step} there, you are
17792 presented a virtual layer of the recording target, while the process target
17793 remains stopped at the chronologically last point of the process execution.
17795 Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new core
17796 file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}). To
17797 specify as a target a process that is already running, use the @code{attach}
17798 command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
17800 @node Target Commands
17801 @section Commands for Managing Targets
17804 @item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
17805 Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
17806 process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
17807 facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
17808 protocol of the target machine.
17810 Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
17811 typically include things like device names or host names to connect
17812 with, process numbers, and baud rates.
17814 The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
17815 after executing the command.
17817 @kindex help target
17819 Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
17820 currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
17821 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
17823 @item help target @var{name}
17824 Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
17827 @kindex set gnutarget
17828 @item set gnutarget @var{args}
17829 @value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
17830 knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
17831 a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
17832 with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
17833 with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
17836 @emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
17837 you must know the actual BFD name.
17841 @xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
17843 @kindex show gnutarget
17844 @item show gnutarget
17845 Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
17846 @code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
17847 @value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
17848 and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BFD target is "auto"}.
17851 @cindex common targets
17852 Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
17857 @item target exec @var{program}
17858 @cindex executable file target
17859 An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
17860 @samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
17862 @item target core @var{filename}
17863 @cindex core dump file target
17864 A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
17865 @samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
17867 @item target remote @var{medium}
17868 @cindex remote target
17869 A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
17870 connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
17871 protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
17873 For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
17874 machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
17877 target remote /dev/ttya
17880 @code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
17881 useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
17882 system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
17883 clobbered by the download.
17885 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
17886 @cindex built-in simulator target
17887 Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
17895 works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
17896 drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
17897 provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
17898 see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
17903 Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
17904 your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
17906 Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
17907 you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
17908 various aspects of this process.
17913 @kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
17914 @cindex hash mark while downloading
17915 This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
17916 downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
17917 displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
17921 @kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
17922 Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
17924 @item set debug monitor
17925 @kindex set debug monitor
17926 @cindex display remote monitor communications
17927 Enable or disable display of communications messages between
17928 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
17930 @item show debug monitor
17931 @kindex show debug monitor
17932 Show the current status of displaying communications between
17933 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
17938 @kindex load @var{filename}
17939 @item load @var{filename}
17941 Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
17942 @value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
17943 is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
17944 on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
17945 @code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
17946 the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
17948 If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
17949 execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
17950 target is @dots{}}''
17952 The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
17953 For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
17954 link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
17955 specifies a fixed address.
17956 @c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
17958 Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
17959 load programs into flash memory.
17961 @code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
17965 @section Choosing Target Byte Order
17967 @cindex choosing target byte order
17968 @cindex target byte order
17970 Some types of processors, such as the @acronym{MIPS}, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
17971 offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
17972 orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
17973 designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
17974 which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
17975 @value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
17979 @item set endian big
17980 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
17982 @item set endian little
17983 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
17985 @item set endian auto
17986 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
17990 Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
17994 Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
17995 data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
17999 @node Remote Debugging
18000 @chapter Debugging Remote Programs
18001 @cindex remote debugging
18003 If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
18004 @value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
18005 For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
18006 or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
18007 powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
18009 Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
18010 to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
18011 @value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
18012 but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
18013 write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
18014 communicate with @value{GDBN}.
18016 Other remote targets may be available in your
18017 configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
18020 * Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
18021 * File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
18022 * Server:: Using the gdbserver program
18023 * Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
18024 * Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
18028 @section Connecting to a Remote Target
18030 On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
18031 your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
18032 Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
18033 program as the first argument.
18035 @cindex @code{target remote}
18036 @value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
18037 over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
18038 each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
18039 program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
18040 @code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
18041 Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
18045 @item target remote @var{serial-device}
18046 @cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
18047 Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
18048 to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
18051 target remote /dev/ttyb
18054 If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
18055 @samp{--baud} option, or use the @code{set serial baud} command
18056 (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set serial baud}) before the
18057 @code{target} command.
18059 @item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
18060 @itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
18061 @cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
18062 Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
18063 The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
18064 address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
18065 the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
18066 it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
18069 For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
18073 target remote manyfarms:2828
18076 If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
18077 debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
18078 same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
18079 port 1234 on your local machine:
18082 target remote :1234
18086 Note that the colon is still required here.
18088 @item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
18089 @cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
18090 Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
18091 connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
18094 target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
18097 When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
18098 keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
18099 can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
18100 cause havoc with your debugging session.
18102 @item target remote | @var{command}
18103 @cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
18104 Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
18105 pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
18106 by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
18107 protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
18108 standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
18109 that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
18110 using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
18112 If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
18113 @value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
18114 program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
18118 Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
18119 commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
18120 running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
18121 need to use @kbd{run}.
18123 @cindex interrupting remote programs
18124 @cindex remote programs, interrupting
18125 Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
18126 interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
18127 program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
18128 and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
18129 interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
18132 Interrupted while waiting for the program.
18133 Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
18136 If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
18137 (If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
18138 remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
18139 goes back to waiting.
18142 @kindex detach (remote)
18144 When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
18145 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
18146 Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
18147 will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
18148 command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
18152 The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
18153 the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
18154 (this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
18155 the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
18158 @cindex send command to remote monitor
18159 @cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
18160 @cindex add new commands for external monitor
18162 @item monitor @var{cmd}
18163 This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
18164 remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
18165 sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
18166 can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
18170 @node File Transfer
18171 @section Sending files to a remote system
18172 @cindex remote target, file transfer
18173 @cindex file transfer
18174 @cindex sending files to remote systems
18176 Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
18177 connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
18178 for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
18179 running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
18180 e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
18181 the only way to upload or download files.
18183 Not all remote targets support these commands.
18187 @item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
18188 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
18189 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
18192 @item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
18193 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
18194 on the host system.
18196 @kindex remote delete
18197 @item remote delete @var{targetfile}
18198 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
18203 @section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
18206 @cindex remote connection without stubs
18207 @code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
18208 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
18209 @code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
18211 @code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
18212 because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
18213 that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
18214 @code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
18215 @value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
18216 because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
18217 also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
18218 started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
18219 Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
18220 the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
18221 do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
18222 by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
18223 choice for debugging.
18225 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
18226 or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
18230 @emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
18231 Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
18232 @value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
18233 target system with the same privileges as the user running
18237 @subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
18238 @cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
18239 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, command-line arguments
18241 Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
18242 program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
18243 @code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
18244 strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
18245 system does all the symbol handling.
18247 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
18248 the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
18252 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
18255 @var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line), or a TCP
18256 hostname and portnumber, or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
18257 stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}.
18258 For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
18259 @samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
18263 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
18266 @code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
18269 To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
18272 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
18275 The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
18276 specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
18277 TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
18278 expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
18279 (Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
18280 you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
18281 TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
18282 reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
18283 conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
18284 and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
18285 @code{target remote} command.
18287 The @code{stdio} connection is useful when starting @code{gdbserver}
18291 (gdb) target remote | ssh -T hostname gdbserver - hello
18294 The @samp{-T} option to ssh is provided because we don't need a remote pty,
18295 and we don't want escape-character handling. Ssh does this by default when
18296 a command is provided, the flag is provided to make it explicit.
18297 You could elide it if you want to.
18299 Programs started with stdio-connected gdbserver have @file{/dev/null} for
18300 @code{stdin}, and @code{stdout},@code{stderr} are sent back to gdb for
18301 display through a pipe connected to gdbserver.
18302 Both @code{stdout} and @code{stderr} use the same pipe.
18304 @subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
18305 @cindex attach to a program, @code{gdbserver}
18306 @cindex @option{--attach}, @code{gdbserver} option
18308 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
18309 This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
18312 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
18315 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
18316 to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
18319 You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
18320 @code{pidof} utility:
18323 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
18326 In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
18327 has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
18328 @code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
18330 @subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
18331 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, multiple processes
18332 @cindex multiple processes with @code{gdbserver}
18334 When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
18335 @code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
18336 program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
18337 and @code{gdbserver} exits.
18339 If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
18340 enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
18341 detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
18342 though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
18343 commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
18344 The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
18345 remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
18346 arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
18347 redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
18349 @cindex @option{--multi}, @code{gdbserver} option
18350 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
18351 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
18352 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
18353 the program you want to debug.
18355 In multi-process mode @code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit unless you
18356 use the option @option{--once}. You can terminate it by using
18357 @code{monitor exit} (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}). Note that the
18358 conditions under which @code{gdbserver} terminates depend on how @value{GDBN}
18359 connects to it (@kbd{target remote} or @kbd{target extended-remote}). The
18360 @option{--multi} option to @code{gdbserver} has no influence on that.
18362 @subsubsection TCP port allocation lifecycle of @code{gdbserver}
18364 This section applies only when @code{gdbserver} is run to listen on a TCP port.
18366 @code{gdbserver} normally terminates after all of its debugged processes have
18367 terminated in @kbd{target remote} mode. On the other hand, for @kbd{target
18368 extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver} stays running even with no processes left.
18369 @value{GDBN} normally terminates the spawned debugged process on its exit,
18370 which normally also terminates @code{gdbserver} in the @kbd{target remote}
18371 mode. Therefore, when the connection drops unexpectedly, and @value{GDBN}
18372 cannot ask @code{gdbserver} to kill its debugged processes, @code{gdbserver}
18373 stays running even in the @kbd{target remote} mode.
18375 When @code{gdbserver} stays running, @value{GDBN} can connect to it again later.
18376 Such reconnecting is useful for features like @ref{disconnected tracing}. For
18377 completeness, at most one @value{GDBN} can be connected at a time.
18379 @cindex @option{--once}, @code{gdbserver} option
18380 By default, @code{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
18381 subsequent connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
18382 with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
18383 connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session. This
18384 means no further connections to @code{gdbserver} will be possible after the
18385 first one. It also means @code{gdbserver} will terminate after the first
18386 connection with remote @value{GDBN} has closed, even for unexpectedly closed
18387 connections and even in the @kbd{target extended-remote} mode. The
18388 @option{--once} option allows reusing the same port number for connecting to
18389 multiple instances of @code{gdbserver} running on the same host, since each
18390 instance closes its port after the first connection.
18392 @subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
18394 @cindex @option{--debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
18395 The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
18396 status information about the debugging process.
18397 @cindex @option{--remote-debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
18398 The @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
18399 remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
18400 @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
18402 @cindex @option{--wrapper}, @code{gdbserver} option
18403 The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
18404 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
18405 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
18406 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
18408 @code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
18409 command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
18410 program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
18411 runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
18413 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
18414 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
18415 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
18416 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
18418 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
18419 the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
18423 $ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
18426 @subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
18428 Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
18430 First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
18431 your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
18432 @code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
18433 was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
18435 The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
18436 and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
18437 system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
18438 are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
18439 during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
18440 files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
18443 Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
18444 For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
18445 the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
18446 text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
18447 @samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
18448 command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
18449 already on the target.
18451 @subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
18452 @cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
18453 @anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
18455 During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
18456 @code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
18457 Here are the available commands.
18461 List the available monitor commands.
18463 @item monitor set debug 0
18464 @itemx monitor set debug 1
18465 Disable or enable general debugging messages.
18467 @item monitor set remote-debug 0
18468 @itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
18469 Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
18470 protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
18472 @item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
18473 @cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
18474 When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
18475 directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
18476 libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
18477 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to its default value.
18479 The special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path} is
18480 not supported in @code{gdbserver}.
18483 Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
18484 @code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
18485 detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
18486 Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
18487 of a multi-process mode debug session.
18491 @subsection Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
18492 @cindex tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
18494 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints, fast
18495 tracepoints and static tracepoints.
18497 For fast or static tracepoints to work, a special library called the
18498 @dfn{in-process agent} (IPA), must be loaded in the inferior process.
18499 This library is built and distributed as an integral part of
18500 @code{gdbserver}. In addition, support for static tracepoints
18501 requires building the in-process agent library with static tracepoints
18502 support. At present, the UST (LTTng Userspace Tracer,
18503 @url{http://lttng.org/ust}) tracing engine is supported. This support
18504 is automatically available if UST development headers are found in the
18505 standard include path when @code{gdbserver} is built, or if
18506 @code{gdbserver} was explicitly configured using @option{--with-ust}
18507 to point at such headers. You can explicitly disable the support
18508 using @option{--with-ust=no}.
18510 There are several ways to load the in-process agent in your program:
18513 @item Specifying it as dependency at link time
18515 You can link your program dynamically with the in-process agent
18516 library. On most systems, this is accomplished by adding
18517 @code{-linproctrace} to the link command.
18519 @item Using the system's preloading mechanisms
18521 You can force loading the in-process agent at startup time by using
18522 your system's support for preloading shared libraries. Many Unixes
18523 support the concept of preloading user defined libraries. In most
18524 cases, you do that by specifying @code{LD_PRELOAD=libinproctrace.so}
18525 in the environment. See also the description of @code{gdbserver}'s
18526 @option{--wrapper} command line option.
18528 @item Using @value{GDBN} to force loading the agent at run time
18530 On some systems, you can force the inferior to load a shared library,
18531 by calling a dynamic loader function in the inferior that takes care
18532 of dynamically looking up and loading a shared library. On most Unix
18533 systems, the function is @code{dlopen}. You'll use the @code{call}
18534 command for that. For example:
18537 (@value{GDBP}) call dlopen ("libinproctrace.so", ...)
18540 Note that on most Unix systems, for the @code{dlopen} function to be
18541 available, the program needs to be linked with @code{-ldl}.
18544 On systems that have a userspace dynamic loader, like most Unix
18545 systems, when you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target
18546 remote}, you'll find that the program is stopped at the dynamic
18547 loader's entry point, and no shared library has been loaded in the
18548 program's address space yet, including the in-process agent. In that
18549 case, before being able to use any of the fast or static tracepoints
18550 features, you need to let the loader run and load the shared
18551 libraries. The simplest way to do that is to run the program to the
18552 main procedure. E.g., if debugging a C or C@t{++} program, start
18553 @code{gdbserver} like so:
18556 $ gdbserver :9999 myprogram
18559 Start GDB and connect to @code{gdbserver} like so, and run to main:
18563 (@value{GDBP}) target remote myhost:9999
18564 0x00007f215893ba60 in ?? () from /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
18565 (@value{GDBP}) b main
18566 (@value{GDBP}) continue
18569 The in-process tracing agent library should now be loaded into the
18570 process; you can confirm it with the @code{info sharedlibrary}
18571 command, which will list @file{libinproctrace.so} as loaded in the
18572 process. You are now ready to install fast tracepoints, list static
18573 tracepoint markers, probe static tracepoints markers, and start
18576 @node Remote Configuration
18577 @section Remote Configuration
18580 @kindex show remote
18581 This section documents the configuration options available when
18582 debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
18583 extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
18584 system-call-allowed}.
18587 @item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
18588 @cindex address size for remote targets
18589 @cindex bits in remote address
18590 Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
18591 number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
18592 that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
18593 default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
18595 @item show remoteaddresssize
18596 Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
18598 @item set serial baud @var{n}
18599 @cindex baud rate for remote targets
18600 Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
18601 value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
18604 @item show serial baud
18605 Show the current speed of the remote connection.
18607 @item set remotebreak
18608 @cindex interrupt remote programs
18609 @cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
18610 @anchor{set remotebreak}
18611 If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
18612 when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
18613 on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
18614 character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
18615 expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
18617 @item show remotebreak
18618 Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
18619 interrupt the remote program.
18621 @item set remoteflow on
18622 @itemx set remoteflow off
18623 @kindex set remoteflow
18624 Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
18625 on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
18627 @item show remoteflow
18628 @kindex show remoteflow
18629 Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
18631 @item set remotelogbase @var{base}
18632 Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
18633 communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
18634 @code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
18637 @item show remotelogbase
18638 Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
18641 @item set remotelogfile @var{file}
18642 @cindex record serial communications on file
18643 Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
18644 default is not to record at all.
18646 @item show remotelogfile.
18647 Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
18648 serial communications.
18650 @item set remotetimeout @var{num}
18651 @cindex timeout for serial communications
18652 @cindex remote timeout
18653 Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
18654 @var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
18656 @item show remotetimeout
18657 Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
18660 @cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
18661 @cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
18662 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
18663 @anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
18664 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
18665 @itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
18666 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
18667 watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
18669 @cindex limit hardware watchpoints length
18670 @cindex remote target, limit watchpoints length
18671 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit}
18672 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit @var{limit}
18673 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} bytes for the maximum length of
18674 a remote hardware watchpoint. A limit of -1, the default, is treated
18677 @item show remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit
18678 Show the current limit (in bytes) of the maximum length of
18679 a remote hardware watchpoint.
18681 @item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
18682 @itemx show remote exec-file
18683 @anchor{set remote exec-file}
18684 @cindex executable file, for remote target
18685 Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
18686 extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
18687 target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
18688 filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
18690 @item set remote interrupt-sequence
18691 @cindex interrupt remote programs
18692 @cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
18693 Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
18694 @samp{BREAK-g} as the
18695 sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
18696 @samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
18697 is high level of serial line for some certain time.
18698 Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
18699 It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
18701 @item show interrupt-sequence
18702 Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
18703 is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
18704 @code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
18705 also known as Magic SysRq g.
18707 @item set remote interrupt-on-connect
18708 @cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
18709 Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
18710 @value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
18711 Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
18712 which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
18714 @item show interrupt-on-connect
18715 Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
18716 to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
18720 @item set tcp auto-retry on
18721 @cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
18722 Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
18723 debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
18724 condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
18725 before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
18726 enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
18727 to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
18728 @code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
18730 @item set tcp auto-retry off
18731 Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
18733 @item show tcp auto-retry
18734 Show the current auto-retry setting.
18736 @item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
18737 @itemx set tcp connect-timeout unlimited
18738 @cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
18739 @cindex timeout, for remote target connection
18740 Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
18741 @var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
18742 (enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
18743 that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
18744 value. If @var{seconds} is @code{unlimited}, there is no timeout and
18745 @value{GDBN} will keep attempting to establish a connection forever,
18746 unless interrupted with @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The default is 15 seconds.
18748 @item show tcp connect-timeout
18749 Show the current connection timeout setting.
18752 @cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
18753 The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
18754 your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
18755 can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
18756 packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
18757 packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
18758 or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
18759 all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
18760 see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
18762 During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
18763 If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
18764 in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
18765 @value{GDBN} developers.
18767 For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
18768 packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
18771 @multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
18774 @tab Related Features
18776 @item @code{fetch-register}
18778 @tab @code{info registers}
18780 @item @code{set-register}
18784 @item @code{binary-download}
18786 @tab @code{load}, @code{set}
18788 @item @code{read-aux-vector}
18789 @tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
18790 @tab @code{info auxv}
18792 @item @code{symbol-lookup}
18793 @tab @code{qSymbol}
18794 @tab Detecting multiple threads
18796 @item @code{attach}
18797 @tab @code{vAttach}
18800 @item @code{verbose-resume}
18802 @tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
18808 @item @code{software-breakpoint}
18812 @item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
18816 @item @code{write-watchpoint}
18820 @item @code{read-watchpoint}
18824 @item @code{access-watchpoint}
18828 @item @code{target-features}
18829 @tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
18830 @tab @code{set architecture}
18832 @item @code{library-info}
18833 @tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
18834 @tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
18836 @item @code{memory-map}
18837 @tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
18838 @tab @code{info mem}
18840 @item @code{read-sdata-object}
18841 @tab @code{qXfer:sdata:read}
18842 @tab @code{print $_sdata}
18844 @item @code{read-spu-object}
18845 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
18846 @tab @code{info spu}
18848 @item @code{write-spu-object}
18849 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
18850 @tab @code{info spu}
18852 @item @code{read-siginfo-object}
18853 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
18854 @tab @code{print $_siginfo}
18856 @item @code{write-siginfo-object}
18857 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
18858 @tab @code{set $_siginfo}
18860 @item @code{threads}
18861 @tab @code{qXfer:threads:read}
18862 @tab @code{info threads}
18864 @item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
18865 @tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
18866 @tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
18868 @item @code{get-thread-information-block-address}
18869 @tab @code{qGetTIBAddr}
18870 @tab Display MS-Windows Thread Information Block.
18872 @item @code{search-memory}
18873 @tab @code{qSearch:memory}
18876 @item @code{supported-packets}
18877 @tab @code{qSupported}
18878 @tab Remote communications parameters
18880 @item @code{pass-signals}
18881 @tab @code{QPassSignals}
18882 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
18884 @item @code{program-signals}
18885 @tab @code{QProgramSignals}
18886 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
18888 @item @code{hostio-close-packet}
18889 @tab @code{vFile:close}
18890 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18892 @item @code{hostio-open-packet}
18893 @tab @code{vFile:open}
18894 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18896 @item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
18897 @tab @code{vFile:pread}
18898 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18900 @item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
18901 @tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
18902 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
18904 @item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
18905 @tab @code{vFile:unlink}
18906 @tab @code{remote delete}
18908 @item @code{hostio-readlink-packet}
18909 @tab @code{vFile:readlink}
18912 @item @code{noack-packet}
18913 @tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
18914 @tab Packet acknowledgment
18916 @item @code{osdata}
18917 @tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
18918 @tab @code{info os}
18920 @item @code{query-attached}
18921 @tab @code{qAttached}
18922 @tab Querying remote process attach state.
18924 @item @code{trace-buffer-size}
18925 @tab @code{QTBuffer:size}
18926 @tab @code{set trace-buffer-size}
18928 @item @code{trace-status}
18929 @tab @code{qTStatus}
18930 @tab @code{tstatus}
18932 @item @code{traceframe-info}
18933 @tab @code{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
18934 @tab Traceframe info
18936 @item @code{install-in-trace}
18937 @tab @code{InstallInTrace}
18938 @tab Install tracepoint in tracing
18940 @item @code{disable-randomization}
18941 @tab @code{QDisableRandomization}
18942 @tab @code{set disable-randomization}
18944 @item @code{conditional-breakpoints-packet}
18945 @tab @code{Z0 and Z1}
18946 @tab @code{Support for target-side breakpoint condition evaluation}
18950 @section Implementing a Remote Stub
18952 @cindex debugging stub, example
18953 @cindex remote stub, example
18954 @cindex stub example, remote debugging
18955 The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
18956 communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
18957 @value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
18958 these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
18959 implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
18960 with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
18961 organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
18963 @cindex remote serial debugging, overview
18964 To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
18965 @dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
18966 prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
18971 A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
18972 have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
18973 your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
18976 A C subroutine library to support your program's
18977 subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
18980 A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
18981 download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
18982 manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
18986 The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
18987 communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
18988 machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
18992 @value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
18993 else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
18994 (@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
18996 @item On the target,
18997 you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
18998 implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
18999 subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
19001 On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
19002 @code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
19003 @xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
19006 The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
19007 machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
19010 @cindex remote serial stub list
19011 These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
19016 @cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
19019 For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
19022 @cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
19023 @cindex Motorola 680x0
19025 For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
19028 @cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
19031 For Renesas SH architectures.
19034 @cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
19036 For @sc{sparc} architectures.
19038 @item sparcl-stub.c
19039 @cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
19042 For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
19046 The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
19047 recently added stubs.
19050 * Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
19051 * Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
19052 * Debug Session:: Putting it all together
19055 @node Stub Contents
19056 @subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
19058 @cindex remote serial stub
19059 The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
19063 @item set_debug_traps
19064 @findex set_debug_traps
19065 @cindex remote serial stub, initialization
19066 This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
19067 program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly in your
19068 program's startup code.
19070 @item handle_exception
19071 @findex handle_exception
19072 @cindex remote serial stub, main routine
19073 This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
19074 explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
19075 run when a trap is triggered.
19077 @code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
19078 execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
19079 with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
19080 protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
19081 representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
19082 information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
19083 retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
19084 execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
19085 @code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
19089 @cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
19090 Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
19091 breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
19092 way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
19093 machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
19094 pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
19095 @code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
19096 simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
19097 again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
19098 your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
19099 @value{GDBN} session gets control.
19101 Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
19102 to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
19103 start of your debugging session.
19106 @node Bootstrapping
19107 @subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
19109 @cindex remote stub, support routines
19110 The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
19111 chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
19112 debugging target machine.
19114 First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
19118 @item int getDebugChar()
19119 @findex getDebugChar
19120 Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
19121 It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
19122 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
19124 @item void putDebugChar(int)
19125 @findex putDebugChar
19126 Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
19127 It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
19128 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
19131 @cindex control C, and remote debugging
19132 @cindex interrupting remote targets
19133 If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
19134 running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
19135 for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
19136 character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
19137 remote system to stop.
19139 Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
19140 probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
19141 is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
19142 @value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
19144 Other routines you need to supply are:
19147 @item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
19148 @findex exceptionHandler
19149 Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
19150 handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
19151 way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
19152 are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
19153 containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
19154 @var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
19155 its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
19156 might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
19157 exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
19158 @var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
19159 and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
19160 you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
19161 should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
19163 For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
19164 gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
19165 should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
19166 @sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
19167 help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
19169 @item void flush_i_cache()
19170 @findex flush_i_cache
19171 On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
19172 instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
19173 instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
19175 On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
19176 function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
19180 You must also make sure this library routine is available:
19183 @item void *memset(void *, int, int)
19185 This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
19186 memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
19187 @code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
19188 either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
19191 If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
19192 library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
19193 but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
19194 subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
19197 @node Debug Session
19198 @subsection Putting it All Together
19200 @cindex remote serial debugging summary
19201 In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
19206 Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
19207 (@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
19209 @code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
19210 @code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
19214 Insert these lines in your program's startup code, before the main
19215 procedure is called:
19222 On some machines, when a breakpoint trap is raised, the hardware
19223 automatically makes the PC point to the instruction after the
19224 breakpoint. If your machine doesn't do that, you may need to adjust
19225 @code{handle_exception} to arrange for it to return to the instruction
19226 after the breakpoint on this first invocation, so that your program
19227 doesn't keep hitting the initial breakpoint instead of making
19231 For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
19232 @code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
19235 void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
19239 but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
19240 function in your program, that function is called when
19241 @code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
19242 error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
19243 one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
19246 Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
19247 your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
19250 Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
19251 the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
19254 @c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
19255 @c document that. FIXME.
19256 Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
19257 whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
19260 Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
19261 (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
19265 @node Configurations
19266 @chapter Configuration-Specific Information
19268 While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
19269 cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
19270 describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
19272 There are three major categories of configurations: native
19273 configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
19274 operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
19275 different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
19276 are quite different from each other.
19281 * Embedded Processors::
19288 This section describes details specific to particular native
19293 * BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
19294 * SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
19295 * DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
19296 * Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
19297 * Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
19298 * Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
19304 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
19305 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
19306 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
19309 @node BSD libkvm Interface
19310 @subsection BSD libkvm Interface
19313 @cindex kernel memory image
19314 @cindex kernel crash dump
19316 BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
19317 interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
19318 memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
19319 uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
19320 dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
19321 special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
19322 the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
19326 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
19329 For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
19333 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
19336 Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
19342 Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
19345 Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
19346 modern FreeBSD systems.
19349 @node SVR4 Process Information
19350 @subsection SVR4 Process Information
19352 @cindex examine process image
19353 @cindex process info via @file{/proc}
19355 Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
19356 @samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
19357 process using file-system subroutines.
19359 If @value{GDBN} is configured for an operating system with this
19360 facility, the command @code{info proc} is available to report
19361 information about the process running your program, or about any
19362 process running on your system. This includes, as of this writing,
19363 @sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital Unix), Solaris, and Irix, but
19364 not HP-UX, for example.
19366 This command may also work on core files that were created on a system
19367 that has the @samp{/proc} facility.
19373 @itemx info proc @var{process-id}
19374 Summarize available information about any running process. If a
19375 process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
19376 that process; otherwise display information about the program being
19377 debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
19378 line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
19379 executable file's absolute file name.
19381 On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
19382 @samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
19383 within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
19384 a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
19385 needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
19386 a process ID rather than a thread ID).
19388 @item info proc cmdline
19389 @cindex info proc cmdline
19390 Show the original command line of the process. This command is
19391 specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
19393 @item info proc cwd
19394 @cindex info proc cwd
19395 Show the current working directory of the process. This command is
19396 specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
19398 @item info proc exe
19399 @cindex info proc exe
19400 Show the name of executable of the process. This command is specific
19403 @item info proc mappings
19404 @cindex memory address space mappings
19405 Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
19406 information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
19407 rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
19408 includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
19409 memory access rights to that range.
19411 @item info proc stat
19412 @itemx info proc status
19413 @cindex process detailed status information
19414 These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
19415 the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
19416 how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
19417 the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
19418 consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
19419 value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
19420 (type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
19422 @item info proc all
19423 Show all the information about the process described under all of the
19424 above @code{info proc} subcommands.
19427 @comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
19428 @comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
19429 @comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
19430 @kindex info proc times
19431 @item info proc times
19432 Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
19435 @kindex info proc id
19437 Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
19438 the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
19441 @item set procfs-trace
19442 @kindex set procfs-trace
19443 @cindex @code{procfs} API calls
19444 This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
19446 @item show procfs-trace
19447 @kindex show procfs-trace
19448 Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
19450 @item set procfs-file @var{file}
19451 @kindex set procfs-file
19452 Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
19453 @var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
19454 contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
19457 @item show procfs-file
19458 @kindex show procfs-file
19459 Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
19461 @item proc-trace-entry
19462 @itemx proc-trace-exit
19463 @itemx proc-untrace-entry
19464 @itemx proc-untrace-exit
19465 @kindex proc-trace-entry
19466 @kindex proc-trace-exit
19467 @kindex proc-untrace-entry
19468 @kindex proc-untrace-exit
19469 These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
19470 from the @code{syscall} interface.
19473 @kindex info pidlist
19474 @cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
19475 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
19476 processes and all the threads within each process.
19479 @kindex info meminfo
19480 @cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
19481 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
19485 @subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
19486 @cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
19487 @cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
19488 @cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
19491 @sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
19492 MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
19493 that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
19494 top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
19496 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
19497 defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
19498 subsection describes those commands.
19503 This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
19504 information about the target system and important OS structures.
19507 @cindex MS-DOS system info
19508 @cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
19509 @item info dos sysinfo
19510 This command displays assorted information about the underlying
19511 platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
19512 DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
19517 @cindex segment descriptor tables
19518 @cindex descriptor tables display
19520 @itemx info dos ldt
19521 @itemx info dos idt
19522 These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
19523 and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
19524 tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
19525 that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
19526 descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
19527 descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
19530 A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
19531 segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
19532 allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
19533 conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
19534 additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
19536 @cindex garbled pointers
19537 These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
19538 Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
19539 displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
19540 display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
19541 example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
19542 debugged program's data segment:
19545 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
19546 @exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
19550 This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
19551 the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
19553 @cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
19555 @itemx info dos pte
19556 These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
19557 Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
19558 data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
19559 into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
19560 page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
19561 may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
19562 Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
19563 that is currently in use.
19565 Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
19566 Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
19567 the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
19568 @kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
19569 Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
19570 means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
19571 the specified entry in the Page Directory.
19573 @cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
19574 These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
19575 Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
19578 These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
19580 @cindex physical address from linear address
19581 @item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
19582 This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
19583 address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
19584 already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
19585 because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
19586 segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
19587 the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
19590 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
19591 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
19592 @exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
19596 This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
19597 whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
19598 attributes of that page.
19600 Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
19601 since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
19602 address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
19603 be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
19604 declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
19605 @code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
19607 Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
19611 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
19612 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
19613 @exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
19617 (The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
19618 3rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
19619 clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
19620 memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
19621 linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
19623 This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
19626 @cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
19627 In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
19628 debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
19629 to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
19632 @kindex set com1base
19633 @kindex set com1irq
19634 @kindex set com2base
19635 @kindex set com2irq
19636 @kindex set com3base
19637 @kindex set com3irq
19638 @kindex set com4base
19639 @kindex set com4irq
19640 @item set com1base @var{addr}
19641 This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
19644 @item set com1irq @var{irq}
19645 This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
19646 for the @file{COM1} serial port.
19648 There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
19649 etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
19652 @kindex show com1base
19653 @kindex show com1irq
19654 @kindex show com2base
19655 @kindex show com2irq
19656 @kindex show com3base
19657 @kindex show com3irq
19658 @kindex show com4base
19659 @kindex show com4irq
19660 The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
19661 display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
19662 lines used by the COM ports.
19665 @kindex info serial
19666 @cindex DOS serial port status
19667 This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
19668 port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
19669 IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
19670 counts of various errors encountered so far.
19674 @node Cygwin Native
19675 @subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
19676 @cindex MS Windows debugging
19677 @cindex native Cygwin debugging
19678 @cindex Cygwin-specific commands
19680 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
19681 DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
19683 @cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
19684 @cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
19685 MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
19686 special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
19687 by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
19688 supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
19689 sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
19692 There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
19693 this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
19694 described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
19699 This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
19700 information about the target system and important OS structures.
19702 @item info w32 selector
19703 This command displays information returned by
19704 the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
19705 It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
19706 a long value to give the information about this given selector.
19707 Without argument, this command displays information
19708 about the six segment registers.
19710 @item info w32 thread-information-block
19711 This command displays thread specific information stored in the
19712 Thread Information Block (readable on the X86 CPU family using @code{$fs}
19713 selector for 32-bit programs and @code{$gs} for 64-bit programs).
19717 This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
19719 @kindex dll-symbols
19721 This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
19722 add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
19724 @kindex set cygwin-exceptions
19725 @cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
19726 @cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
19727 @item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
19728 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
19729 happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
19730 @value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
19731 exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
19732 ``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
19733 Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
19734 @value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
19736 @kindex show cygwin-exceptions
19737 @item show cygwin-exceptions
19738 Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
19739 inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
19741 @kindex set new-console
19742 @item set new-console @var{mode}
19743 If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
19744 be started in a new console on next start.
19745 If @var{mode} is @code{off}, the debuggee will
19746 be started in the same console as the debugger.
19748 @kindex show new-console
19749 @item show new-console
19750 Displays whether a new console is used
19751 when the debuggee is started.
19753 @kindex set new-group
19754 @item set new-group @var{mode}
19755 This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
19756 start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
19757 This affects the way the Windows OS handles
19760 @kindex show new-group
19761 @item show new-group
19762 Displays current value of new-group boolean.
19764 @kindex set debugevents
19765 @item set debugevents
19766 This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
19767 to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
19768 signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
19769 unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
19770 Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
19772 @kindex set debugexec
19773 @item set debugexec
19774 This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
19775 (such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
19777 @kindex set debugexceptions
19778 @item set debugexceptions
19779 This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
19780 debuggee seen by the debugger.
19782 @kindex set debugmemory
19783 @item set debugmemory
19784 This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
19785 and writes by the debugger.
19789 This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
19790 via a shell or directly (default value is on).
19794 Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
19799 * Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
19802 @node Non-debug DLL Symbols
19803 @subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
19804 @cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
19805 @cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
19807 Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
19808 not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
19809 @file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
19810 symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
19811 information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
19812 describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
19813 ``minimal symbols''.
19815 Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
19816 will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
19817 start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
19818 program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
19819 @value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
19820 see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
19821 @code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
19822 explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
19823 cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
19824 which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
19826 @subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
19828 In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
19829 tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
19830 DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
19831 also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
19832 sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
19833 (particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
19834 necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
19835 contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
19836 exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
19838 Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
19839 though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
19840 symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
19841 some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
19842 @code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
19843 (@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
19846 (@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
19847 All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
19849 Non-debugging symbols:
19850 0x77e885f4 CreateFileA
19851 0x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
19855 (@value{GDBP}) info function !
19856 All functions matching regular expression "!":
19858 Non-debugging symbols:
19859 0x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
19860 0x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
19861 0x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
19865 @subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
19867 Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
19868 type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
19869 refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
19870 contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
19871 contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
19872 means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
19873 a function within a DLL without a running program.
19875 Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
19876 automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
19877 variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
19878 type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
19882 (@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
19887 (@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
19888 0x10021610: "\230y\""
19891 And two possible solutions:
19894 (@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
19895 $2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
19899 (@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
19900 0x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
19901 (@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
19902 0x10021608: 0x0022fd98
19903 (@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
19904 0x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
19907 Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
19908 starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
19909 examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
19910 function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
19911 to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
19914 (@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
19915 Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
19918 The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
19919 break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
19923 @subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
19924 @cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
19926 This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
19927 @sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
19932 @kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
19933 @kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
19934 This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
19935 @value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
19936 affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
19941 @kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
19942 @kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
19943 Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
19945 @item set signal-thread
19946 @itemx set sigthread
19947 @kindex set signal-thread
19948 @kindex set sigthread
19949 This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
19950 thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
19951 process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
19954 @item show signal-thread
19955 @itemx show sigthread
19956 @kindex show signal-thread
19957 @kindex show sigthread
19958 These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
19959 delivered a signal.
19962 @kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
19963 This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
19964 as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
19965 continued by delivering a signal to it.
19968 @kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
19969 This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
19972 @item set exceptions
19973 @kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
19974 Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
19975 When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
19976 single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
19979 @item show exceptions
19980 @kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
19981 Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
19983 @item set task pause
19984 @kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
19985 @cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
19986 @cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
19987 This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
19988 Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
19989 whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
19990 effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
19991 to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
19992 thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
19994 @item show task pause
19995 @kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
19996 Show the current state of task suspension.
19998 @item set task detach-suspend-count
19999 @cindex task suspend count
20000 @cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20001 This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
20002 @value{GDBN} detaches from it.
20004 @item show task detach-suspend-count
20005 Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
20007 @item set task exception-port
20008 @itemx set task excp
20009 @cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20010 This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
20011 forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
20012 rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
20014 @item set noninvasive
20015 @cindex noninvasive task options
20016 This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
20017 invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
20018 is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
20019 @code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
20021 @item info send-rights
20022 @itemx info receive-rights
20023 @itemx info port-rights
20024 @itemx info port-sets
20025 @itemx info dead-names
20028 @cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20029 @cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20030 @cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20031 @cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20032 @cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20033 These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
20034 receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
20035 There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
20036 port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
20038 @item set thread pause
20039 @kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
20040 @cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20041 @cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
20042 This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
20043 control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
20044 thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
20045 off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
20046 Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
20047 control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
20048 task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
20049 only the current thread.
20051 @item show thread pause
20052 @kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
20053 This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
20055 @item set thread run
20056 This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
20058 @item show thread run
20059 Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
20061 @item set thread detach-suspend-count
20062 @cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20063 @cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20064 This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
20065 thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
20066 found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
20067 takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
20069 @item show thread detach-suspend-count
20070 Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
20073 @item set thread exception-port
20074 @itemx set thread excp
20075 Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
20076 overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
20077 @code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
20079 @item set thread takeover-suspend-count
20080 Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
20081 value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
20082 changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
20084 @item set thread default
20085 @itemx show thread default
20086 @cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
20087 Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
20088 default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
20089 thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
20090 variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
20091 threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
20092 the non-default commands.
20099 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
20102 @item set debug darwin @var{num}
20103 @kindex set debug darwin
20104 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
20105 the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
20107 @item show debug darwin
20108 @kindex show debug darwin
20109 Show the current state of Darwin messages.
20111 @item set debug mach-o @var{num}
20112 @kindex set debug mach-o
20113 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
20114 @value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
20115 file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
20116 values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
20117 problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
20120 @item show debug mach-o
20121 @kindex show debug mach-o
20122 Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
20124 @item set mach-exceptions on
20125 @itemx set mach-exceptions off
20126 @kindex set mach-exceptions
20127 On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
20128 mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
20129 Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
20130 better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
20132 @item show mach-exceptions
20133 @kindex show mach-exceptions
20134 Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
20139 @section Embedded Operating Systems
20141 This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
20142 embedded operating systems that are available for several different
20146 * VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
20149 @value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
20150 various real-time operating systems.
20153 @subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
20159 @kindex target vxworks
20160 @item target vxworks @var{machinename}
20161 A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
20162 is the target system's machine name or IP address.
20166 On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
20167 current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
20169 @value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
20170 VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
20171 the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
20172 both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
20173 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
20174 installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
20175 @value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
20178 @item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
20179 @kindex vxworks-timeout
20180 All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
20181 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
20182 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
20183 your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
20184 of a thin network line.
20187 The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
20188 this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
20191 @findex INCLUDE_RDB
20192 To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
20193 to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
20194 library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
20195 VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
20196 kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
20197 source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
20198 information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
20200 @c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
20202 Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
20203 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
20204 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
20205 @code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
20207 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
20214 * VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
20215 * VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
20216 * VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
20219 @node VxWorks Connection
20220 @subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
20222 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
20223 network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
20226 (vxgdb) target vxworks tt
20230 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
20233 Attaching remote machine across net...
20238 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
20239 loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
20240 these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
20241 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
20242 to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
20245 prog.o: No such file or directory.
20248 When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
20249 the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
20252 @node VxWorks Download
20253 @subsubsection VxWorks Download
20255 @cindex download to VxWorks
20256 If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
20257 object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
20258 @code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
20259 incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
20260 command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
20261 to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
20262 table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
20263 the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
20264 filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
20265 Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
20266 to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
20267 the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
20268 @file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
20269 and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
20270 program, type this on VxWorks:
20273 -> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
20277 Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
20280 (vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
20281 (vxgdb) load prog.o
20284 @value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
20287 Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
20290 You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
20291 after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
20292 this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
20293 auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
20294 history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
20295 debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
20298 @node VxWorks Attach
20299 @subsubsection Running Tasks
20301 @cindex running VxWorks tasks
20302 You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
20306 (vxgdb) attach @var{task}
20310 where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
20311 or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
20312 the time of attachment.
20314 @node Embedded Processors
20315 @section Embedded Processors
20317 This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
20320 @cindex send command to simulator
20321 Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
20322 allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
20325 @item sim @var{command}
20326 @kindex sim@r{, a command}
20327 Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
20328 documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
20329 acceptable commands.
20335 * M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
20336 * M68K:: Motorola M68K
20337 * MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
20338 * MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
20339 * PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
20340 * PA:: HP PA Embedded
20341 * Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
20342 * Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
20343 * Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
20346 * Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
20355 @item target rdi @var{dev}
20356 ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
20357 use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
20358 monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
20361 @item target rdp @var{dev}
20366 @value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
20369 @item set arm disassembler
20371 This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
20372 @code{"std"} style is the standard style.
20374 @item show arm disassembler
20376 Show the current disassembly style.
20378 @item set arm apcs32
20379 @cindex ARM 32-bit mode
20380 This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
20382 @item show arm apcs32
20383 Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
20385 @item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
20386 This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
20387 argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
20391 Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
20393 Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
20396 GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
20398 Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
20404 Show the current type of the FPU.
20407 This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
20410 Show the currently used ABI.
20412 @item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
20413 @value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
20414 whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
20415 @value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
20416 available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
20417 use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
20420 @item show arm fallback-mode
20421 Show the current fallback instruction mode.
20423 @item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
20424 This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
20425 instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
20426 causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
20427 of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
20429 @item show arm force-mode
20430 Show the current forced instruction mode.
20432 @item set debug arm
20433 Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
20434 target support subsystem.
20436 @item show debug arm
20437 Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
20440 The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
20441 using the RDI interface:
20444 @item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
20446 @cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
20447 Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
20448 With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
20449 no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
20452 @item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
20453 @kindex rdilogenable
20454 Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
20455 enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
20456 no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
20457 ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
20458 are logged to a file.
20460 @item set rdiromatzero
20461 @kindex set rdiromatzero
20462 @cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
20463 Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
20464 vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
20465 (the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
20466 effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
20468 @item show rdiromatzero
20469 @kindex show rdiromatzero
20470 Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
20472 @item set rdiheartbeat
20473 @kindex set rdiheartbeat
20474 @cindex RDI heartbeat
20475 Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
20476 turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
20477 well as the Angel monitor.
20479 @item show rdiheartbeat
20480 @kindex show rdiheartbeat
20481 Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
20485 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
20486 The @value{GDBN} ARM simulator accepts the following optional arguments.
20489 @item --swi-support=@var{type}
20490 Tell the simulator which SWI interfaces to support.
20491 @var{type} may be a comma separated list of the following values.
20492 The default value is @code{all}.
20505 @subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
20508 @kindex target m32r
20509 @item target m32r @var{dev}
20510 Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
20512 @kindex target m32rsdi
20513 @item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
20514 Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
20517 The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
20520 @item set download-path @var{path}
20521 @kindex set download-path
20522 @cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
20523 Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
20525 @item show download-path
20526 @kindex show download-path
20527 Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
20529 @item set board-address @var{addr}
20530 @kindex set board-address
20531 @cindex M32-EVA target board address
20532 Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
20534 @item show board-address
20535 @kindex show board-address
20536 Show the current IP address of the target board.
20538 @item set server-address @var{addr}
20539 @kindex set server-address
20540 @cindex download server address (M32R)
20541 Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
20544 @item show server-address
20545 @kindex show server-address
20546 Display the IP address of the download server.
20548 @item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
20549 @kindex upload@r{, M32R}
20550 Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
20551 upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
20552 executable file is uploaded.
20554 @item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
20555 @kindex tload@r{, M32R}
20556 Test the @code{upload} command.
20559 The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
20564 @cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
20565 This command resets the SDI connection.
20569 This command shows the SDI connection status.
20572 @kindex debug_chaos
20573 @cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
20574 Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
20576 @item use_debug_dma
20577 @kindex use_debug_dma
20578 Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
20581 @kindex use_mon_code
20582 Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
20585 @kindex use_ib_break
20586 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
20588 @item use_dbt_break
20589 @kindex use_dbt_break
20590 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
20596 The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
20597 target command for the following ROM monitor.
20601 @kindex target dbug
20602 @item target dbug @var{dev}
20603 dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
20608 @subsection MicroBlaze
20609 @cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
20610 @cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
20612 The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
20613 FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
20614 usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
20615 Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
20616 This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
20617 the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
20618 communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
20619 presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
20620 @code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
20621 this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
20622 commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
20624 Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
20627 @item target remote :1234
20628 Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
20629 on the same system as @code{xmd}.
20631 @item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
20632 Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
20633 running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
20636 Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
20638 @item set debug microblaze @var{n}
20639 Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
20641 @item show debug microblaze @var{n}
20642 Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
20645 @node MIPS Embedded
20646 @subsection @acronym{MIPS} Embedded
20648 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} boards
20649 @value{GDBN} can use the @acronym{MIPS} remote debugging protocol to talk to a
20650 @acronym{MIPS} board attached to a serial line. This is available when
20651 you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-elf}.
20654 Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
20657 @item target mips @var{port}
20658 @kindex target mips @var{port}
20659 To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
20660 name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
20661 command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
20662 the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
20663 been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
20664 download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
20666 For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
20667 port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
20671 host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
20672 @value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
20673 (@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
20674 (@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
20678 @item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
20679 On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
20680 connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
20681 concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
20682 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
20684 @item target pmon @var{port}
20685 @kindex target pmon @var{port}
20688 @item target ddb @var{port}
20689 @kindex target ddb @var{port}
20690 NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
20692 @item target lsi @var{port}
20693 @kindex target lsi @var{port}
20694 LSI variant of PMON.
20696 @kindex target r3900
20697 @item target r3900 @var{dev}
20698 Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
20700 @kindex target array
20701 @item target array @var{dev}
20702 Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
20708 @value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for @acronym{MIPS} targets:
20711 @item set mipsfpu double
20712 @itemx set mipsfpu single
20713 @itemx set mipsfpu none
20714 @itemx set mipsfpu auto
20715 @itemx show mipsfpu
20716 @kindex set mipsfpu
20717 @kindex show mipsfpu
20718 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} remote floating point
20719 @cindex floating point, @acronym{MIPS} remote
20720 If your target board does not support the @acronym{MIPS} floating point
20721 coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
20722 need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
20723 file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
20724 functions which return floating point values. It also allows
20725 @value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
20726 functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
20727 with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
20728 processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
20729 double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
20730 @samp{set mipsfpu double}.
20732 In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
20733 floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
20734 and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
20736 As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
20737 @samp{show mipsfpu}.
20739 @item set timeout @var{seconds}
20740 @itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
20741 @itemx show timeout
20742 @itemx show retransmit-timeout
20743 @cindex @code{timeout}, @acronym{MIPS} protocol
20744 @cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, @acronym{MIPS} protocol
20745 @kindex set timeout
20746 @kindex show timeout
20747 @kindex set retransmit-timeout
20748 @kindex show retransmit-timeout
20749 You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the @acronym{MIPS}
20750 remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
20751 default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
20752 waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
20753 retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
20754 You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
20755 retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
20756 @value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-elf}.)
20758 The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
20759 is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
20760 forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
20761 to run before stopping.
20763 @item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
20764 @kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20765 @cindex synchronize with remote @acronym{MIPS} target
20766 Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
20767 it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
20768 characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
20770 @item show syn-garbage-limit
20771 @kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20772 Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
20773 trying to synchronize with the remote system.
20775 @item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
20776 @kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20777 @cindex remote monitor prompt
20778 Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
20779 remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
20789 @item show monitor-prompt
20790 @kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20791 Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
20794 @item set monitor-warnings
20795 @kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20796 Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
20797 has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
20798 display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
20799 PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
20801 @item show monitor-warnings
20802 @kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20803 Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
20805 @item pmon @var{command}
20806 @kindex pmon@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
20807 @cindex send PMON command
20808 This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
20809 monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
20812 @node PowerPC Embedded
20813 @subsection PowerPC Embedded
20815 @cindex DVC register
20816 @value{GDBN} supports using the DVC (Data Value Compare) register to
20817 implement in hardware simple hardware watchpoint conditions of the form:
20820 (@value{GDBP}) watch @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} \
20821 if @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} == @var{CONSTANT EXPRESSION}
20824 The DVC register will be automatically used when @value{GDBN} detects
20825 such pattern in a condition expression, and the created watchpoint uses one
20826 debug register (either the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on and the
20827 variable is scalar, or the variable has a length of one byte). This feature
20828 is available in native @value{GDBN} running on a Linux kernel version 2.6.34
20831 When running on PowerPC embedded processors, @value{GDBN} automatically uses
20832 ranged hardware watchpoints, unless the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on,
20833 in which case watchpoints using only one debug register are created when
20834 watching variables of scalar types.
20836 You can create an artificial array to watch an arbitrary memory
20837 region using one of the following commands (@pxref{Expressions}):
20840 (@value{GDBP}) watch *((char *) @var{address})@@@var{length}
20841 (@value{GDBP}) watch @{char[@var{length}]@} @var{address}
20844 PowerPC embedded processors support masked watchpoints. See the discussion
20845 about the @code{mask} argument in @ref{Set Watchpoints}.
20847 @cindex ranged breakpoint
20848 PowerPC embedded processors support hardware accelerated
20849 @dfn{ranged breakpoints}. A ranged breakpoint stops execution of
20850 the inferior whenever it executes an instruction at any address within
20851 the range it specifies. To set a ranged breakpoint in @value{GDBN},
20852 use the @code{break-range} command.
20854 @value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
20857 @kindex break-range
20858 @item break-range @var{start-location}, @var{end-location}
20859 Set a breakpoint for an address range.
20860 @var{start-location} and @var{end-location} can specify a function name,
20861 a line number, an offset of lines from the current line or from the start
20862 location, or an address of an instruction (see @ref{Specify Location},
20863 for a list of all the possible ways to specify a @var{location}.)
20864 The breakpoint will stop execution of the inferior whenever it
20865 executes an instruction at any address within the specified range,
20866 (including @var{start-location} and @var{end-location}.)
20868 @kindex set powerpc
20869 @item set powerpc soft-float
20870 @itemx show powerpc soft-float
20871 Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
20872 convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
20873 on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
20875 @item set powerpc vector-abi
20876 @itemx show powerpc vector-abi
20877 Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
20878 arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
20879 @samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
20880 @samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
20881 registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
20882 based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
20884 @item set powerpc exact-watchpoints
20885 @itemx show powerpc exact-watchpoints
20886 Allow @value{GDBN} to use only one debug register when watching a variable
20887 of scalar type, thus assuming that the variable is accessed through the
20888 address of its first byte.
20890 @kindex target dink32
20891 @item target dink32 @var{dev}
20892 DINK32 ROM monitor.
20894 @kindex target ppcbug
20895 @item target ppcbug @var{dev}
20896 @kindex target ppcbug1
20897 @item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
20898 PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
20901 @item target sds @var{dev}
20902 SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
20905 @cindex SDS protocol
20906 The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
20910 @item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
20911 @kindex set sdstimeout
20912 Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
20913 default is 2 seconds.
20915 @item show sdstimeout
20916 @kindex show sdstimeout
20917 Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
20919 @item sds @var{command}
20920 @kindex sds@r{, a command}
20921 Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
20926 @subsection HP PA Embedded
20930 @kindex target op50n
20931 @item target op50n @var{dev}
20932 OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
20934 @kindex target w89k
20935 @item target w89k @var{dev}
20936 W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
20941 @subsection Tsqware Sparclet
20945 @value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
20946 Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
20947 @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
20948 both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
20949 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
20952 @item remotetimeout @var{args}
20953 @kindex remotetimeout
20954 @value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
20955 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
20956 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
20959 @cindex compiling, on Sparclet
20960 When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
20961 information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
20962 load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
20963 @samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
20966 sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
20969 You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
20972 sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
20975 @cindex running, on Sparclet
20977 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
20978 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
20979 (or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
20981 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
20988 * Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
20989 * Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
20990 * Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
20991 * Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
20994 @node Sparclet File
20995 @subsubsection Setting File to Debug
20997 The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
21000 (gdbslet) file prog
21004 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
21005 @value{GDBN} locates
21006 the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
21008 If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
21009 files will be searched as well.
21010 @value{GDBN} locates
21011 the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
21012 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
21014 to find a file, it displays a message such as:
21017 prog: No such file or directory.
21020 When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
21021 the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
21022 @code{target} command again.
21024 @node Sparclet Connection
21025 @subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
21027 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
21028 To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
21031 (gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
21032 Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
21033 main () at ../prog.c:3
21037 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
21043 @node Sparclet Download
21044 @subsubsection Sparclet Download
21046 @cindex download to Sparclet
21047 Once connected to the Sparclet target,
21048 you can use the @value{GDBN}
21049 @code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
21050 The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
21052 Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
21053 address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
21054 offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
21055 of each of the file's sections.
21056 For instance, if the program
21057 @file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
21058 and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
21061 (gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
21062 Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
21065 If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
21066 to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
21067 to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
21069 @node Sparclet Execution
21070 @subsubsection Running and Debugging
21072 @cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
21073 You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
21074 commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
21075 manual for the list of commands.
21079 Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
21081 Starting program: prog
21082 Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
21083 3 char *symarg = 0;
21085 4 char *execarg = "hello!";
21090 @subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
21094 @kindex target sparclite
21095 @item target sparclite @var{dev}
21096 Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
21097 You must use an additional command to debug the program.
21098 For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
21104 @subsection Zilog Z8000
21107 @cindex simulator, Z8000
21108 @cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
21110 When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
21113 For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
21114 unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
21115 segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
21116 appropriate by inspecting the object code.
21119 @item target sim @var{args}
21121 @kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
21122 Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
21123 options, specify them via @var{args}.
21127 After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
21128 CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
21129 @code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
21130 to run your program, and so on.
21132 As well as making available all the usual machine registers
21133 (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
21134 additional items of information as specially named registers:
21139 Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
21142 Counts instructions run in the simulator.
21145 Execution time in 60ths of a second.
21149 You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
21150 conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
21151 conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
21152 simulated clock ticks.
21155 @subsection Atmel AVR
21158 When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
21159 following AVR-specific commands:
21162 @item info io_registers
21163 @kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
21164 @cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
21165 This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
21166 each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
21173 When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
21174 following CRIS-specific commands:
21177 @item set cris-version @var{ver}
21178 @cindex CRIS version
21179 Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
21180 The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
21181 case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
21183 @item show cris-version
21184 Show the current CRIS version.
21186 @item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
21187 @cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
21188 Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
21189 Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
21192 @item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
21193 Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
21195 @item set cris-mode @var{mode}
21197 Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
21198 debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
21199 @samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
21201 @item show cris-mode
21202 Show the current CRIS mode.
21206 @subsection Renesas Super-H
21209 For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
21213 @item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
21214 @kindex set sh calling-convention
21215 Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
21216 Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
21217 With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
21218 convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
21219 that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
21220 is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
21221 is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
21222 regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
21223 default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
21224 does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
21226 @item show sh calling-convention
21227 @kindex show sh calling-convention
21228 Show the current calling convention setting.
21233 @node Architectures
21234 @section Architectures
21236 This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
21237 all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
21244 * HPPA:: HP PA architecture
21245 * SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
21251 @subsection AArch64
21252 @cindex AArch64 support
21254 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the AArch64 architecture, it provides the
21255 following special commands:
21258 @item set debug aarch64
21259 @kindex set debug aarch64
21260 This command determines whether AArch64 architecture-specific debugging
21261 messages are to be displayed.
21263 @item show debug aarch64
21264 Show whether AArch64 debugging messages are displayed.
21269 @subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
21272 @item set struct-convention @var{mode}
21273 @kindex set struct-convention
21274 @cindex struct return convention
21275 @cindex struct/union returned in registers
21276 Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
21277 @code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
21278 @var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
21279 default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
21280 are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
21281 @code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
21282 be returned in a register.
21284 @item show struct-convention
21285 @kindex show struct-convention
21286 Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
21293 See the following section.
21296 @subsection @acronym{MIPS}
21298 @cindex stack on Alpha
21299 @cindex stack on @acronym{MIPS}
21300 @cindex Alpha stack
21301 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} stack
21302 Alpha- and @acronym{MIPS}-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
21303 sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
21304 find the beginning of a function.
21306 @cindex response time, @acronym{MIPS} debugging
21307 To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
21308 @value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
21309 you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
21313 @cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, @acronym{MIPS})
21314 @item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
21315 Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
21316 search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
21317 default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
21318 larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
21319 and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
21320 this command when debugging a stripped executable.
21322 @item show heuristic-fence-post
21323 Display the current limit.
21327 These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
21328 for debugging programs on Alpha or @acronym{MIPS} processors.
21330 Several @acronym{MIPS}-specific commands are available when debugging @acronym{MIPS}
21334 @item set mips abi @var{arg}
21335 @kindex set mips abi
21336 @cindex set ABI for @acronym{MIPS}
21337 Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
21338 values of @var{arg} are:
21342 The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
21352 @item show mips abi
21353 @kindex show mips abi
21354 Show the @acronym{MIPS} ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
21356 @item set mips compression @var{arg}
21357 @kindex set mips compression
21358 @cindex code compression, @acronym{MIPS}
21359 Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} compressed
21360 @acronym{ISA, Instruction Set Architecture} encoding is used by the
21361 inferior. @value{GDBN} uses this for code disassembly and other
21362 internal interpretation purposes. This setting is only referred to
21363 when no executable has been associated with the debugging session or
21364 the executable does not provide information about the encoding it uses.
21365 Otherwise this setting is automatically updated from information
21366 provided by the executable.
21368 Possible values of @var{arg} are @samp{mips16} and @samp{micromips}.
21369 The default compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding is @samp{mips16}, as
21370 executables containing @acronym{MIPS16} code frequently are not
21371 identified as such.
21373 This setting is ``sticky''; that is, it retains its value across
21374 debugging sessions until reset either explicitly with this command or
21375 implicitly from an executable.
21377 The compiler and/or assembler typically add symbol table annotations to
21378 identify functions compiled for the @acronym{MIPS16} or
21379 @acronym{microMIPS} @acronym{ISA}s. If these function-scope annotations
21380 are present, @value{GDBN} uses them in preference to the global
21381 compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding setting.
21383 @item show mips compression
21384 @kindex show mips compression
21385 Show the @acronym{MIPS} compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding used by
21386 @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
21389 @itemx show mipsfpu
21390 @xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
21392 @item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
21393 @kindex set mips mask-address
21394 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} addresses, masking
21395 This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
21396 @acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
21397 @samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
21398 setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
21400 @item show mips mask-address
21401 @kindex show mips mask-address
21402 Show whether the upper 32 bits of @acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off or
21405 @item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21406 @kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21407 This command controls compatibility with 64-bit @acronym{MIPS} targets that
21408 transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old @acronym{MIPS} 64 target
21409 that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
21410 and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
21412 @item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21413 @kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
21414 Show the current setting of compatibility with older @acronym{MIPS} 64 targets.
21416 @item set debug mips
21417 @kindex set debug mips
21418 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the @acronym{MIPS}-specific
21419 target code in @value{GDBN}.
21421 @item show debug mips
21422 @kindex show debug mips
21423 Show the current setting of @acronym{MIPS} debugging messages.
21429 @cindex HPPA support
21431 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
21432 following special commands:
21435 @item set debug hppa
21436 @kindex set debug hppa
21437 This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
21438 messages are to be displayed.
21440 @item show debug hppa
21441 Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
21443 @item maint print unwind @var{address}
21444 @kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
21445 This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
21446 given @var{address}.
21452 @subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
21453 @cindex Cell Broadband Engine
21456 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
21457 it provides the following special commands:
21460 @item info spu event
21462 Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
21463 and pending event status.
21465 @item info spu signal
21466 Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
21467 signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
21468 notification channels.
21470 @item info spu mailbox
21471 Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
21472 in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
21473 SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
21476 Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
21477 DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
21478 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
21480 @item info spu proxydma
21481 Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
21482 Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
21483 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
21487 When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
21488 on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
21492 @item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
21494 Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
21495 will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
21496 function. The default is @code{off}.
21498 @item show spu stop-on-load
21500 Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
21502 @item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
21503 Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
21504 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
21505 cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
21506 view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
21507 does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
21509 @item show spu auto-flush-cache
21510 Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
21515 @subsection PowerPC
21516 @cindex PowerPC architecture
21518 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
21519 pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
21520 numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
21521 in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
21522 @code{f0} or @code{f2}.
21524 The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
21525 by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
21526 @code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
21528 For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
21529 wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
21532 @subsection Nios II
21533 @cindex Nios II architecture
21535 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Nios II architecture,
21536 it provides the following special commands:
21540 @item set debug nios2
21541 @kindex set debug nios2
21542 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the Nios II
21543 target code in @value{GDBN}.
21545 @item show debug nios2
21546 @kindex show debug nios2
21547 Show the current setting of Nios II debugging messages.
21550 @node Controlling GDB
21551 @chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
21553 You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
21554 @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
21555 data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
21560 * Editing:: Command editing
21561 * Command History:: Command history
21562 * Screen Size:: Screen size
21563 * Numbers:: Numbers
21564 * ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
21565 * Auto-loading:: Automatically loading associated files
21566 * Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
21567 * Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
21568 * Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
21576 @value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
21577 called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
21578 can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
21579 instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
21580 the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
21581 which one you are talking to.
21583 @emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
21584 prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
21585 or a prompt that does not.
21589 @item set prompt @var{newprompt}
21590 Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
21592 @kindex show prompt
21594 Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
21597 Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled have
21598 prompt extensions. The commands for interacting with these extensions
21602 @kindex set extended-prompt
21603 @item set extended-prompt @var{prompt}
21604 Set an extended prompt that allows for substitutions.
21605 @xref{gdb.prompt}, for a list of escape sequences that can be used for
21606 substitution. Any escape sequences specified as part of the prompt
21607 string are replaced with the corresponding strings each time the prompt
21613 set extended-prompt Current working directory: \w (gdb)
21616 Note that when an extended-prompt is set, it takes control of the
21617 @var{prompt_hook} hook. @xref{prompt_hook}, for further information.
21619 @kindex show extended-prompt
21620 @item show extended-prompt
21621 Prints the extended prompt. Any escape sequences specified as part of
21622 the prompt string with @code{set extended-prompt}, are replaced with the
21623 corresponding strings each time the prompt is displayed.
21627 @section Command Editing
21629 @cindex command line editing
21631 @value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
21632 @sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
21633 command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
21634 or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
21635 substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
21636 debugging sessions.
21638 You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
21639 command @code{set}.
21642 @kindex set editing
21645 @itemx set editing on
21646 Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
21648 @item set editing off
21649 Disable command line editing.
21651 @kindex show editing
21653 Show whether command line editing is enabled.
21656 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
21657 @xref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library},
21659 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
21660 @xref{Command Line Editing},
21662 for more details about the Readline
21663 interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
21664 encouraged to read that chapter.
21666 @node Command History
21667 @section Command History
21668 @cindex command history
21670 @value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
21671 debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
21672 happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
21675 @value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
21676 package, to provide the history facility.
21677 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
21678 @xref{Using History Interactively, , , history, GNU History Library},
21680 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
21681 @xref{Using History Interactively},
21683 for the detailed description of the History library.
21685 To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
21686 the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
21687 (@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
21688 means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
21689 affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
21690 pressed on a line by itself.
21692 @cindex @code{server}, command prefix
21693 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
21694 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
21695 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
21697 Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
21701 @cindex history substitution
21702 @cindex history file
21703 @kindex set history filename
21704 @cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
21705 @item set history filename @var{fname}
21706 Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
21707 This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
21708 list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
21709 exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
21710 the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
21711 to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
21712 @file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
21715 @cindex save command history
21716 @kindex set history save
21717 @item set history save
21718 @itemx set history save on
21719 Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
21720 @code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
21722 @item set history save off
21723 Stop recording command history in a file.
21725 @cindex history size
21726 @kindex set history size
21727 @cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
21728 @item set history size @var{size}
21729 @itemx set history size unlimited
21730 Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
21731 This defaults to the value of the environment variable
21732 @code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set. If @var{size}
21733 is @code{unlimited}, the number of commands @value{GDBN} keeps in the
21734 history list is unlimited.
21737 History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
21738 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
21739 @xref{Event Designators, , , history, GNU History Library},
21741 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
21742 @xref{Event Designators},
21746 @cindex history expansion, turn on/off
21747 Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
21748 is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
21749 @code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
21750 follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
21751 a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
21752 history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
21753 @kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
21755 The commands to control history expansion are:
21758 @item set history expansion on
21759 @itemx set history expansion
21760 @kindex set history expansion
21761 Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
21763 @item set history expansion off
21764 Disable history expansion.
21767 @kindex show history
21769 @itemx show history filename
21770 @itemx show history save
21771 @itemx show history size
21772 @itemx show history expansion
21773 These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
21774 @code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
21779 @kindex show commands
21780 @cindex show last commands
21781 @cindex display command history
21782 @item show commands
21783 Display the last ten commands in the command history.
21785 @item show commands @var{n}
21786 Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
21788 @item show commands +
21789 Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
21793 @section Screen Size
21794 @cindex size of screen
21795 @cindex pauses in output
21797 Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
21798 information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
21799 @value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
21800 output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
21801 to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
21802 determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
21803 printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
21804 rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
21806 Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
21807 driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
21808 together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
21809 @code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
21810 you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
21817 @kindex show height
21818 @item set height @var{lpp}
21819 @itemx set height unlimited
21821 @itemx set width @var{cpl}
21822 @itemx set width unlimited
21824 These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
21825 a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
21826 commands display the current settings.
21828 If you specify a height of either @code{unlimited} or zero lines,
21829 @value{GDBN} does not pause during output no matter how long the
21830 output is. This is useful if output is to a file or to an editor
21833 Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width unlimited} or @samp{set
21834 width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN} from wrapping its output.
21836 @item set pagination on
21837 @itemx set pagination off
21838 @kindex set pagination
21839 Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
21840 pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height unlimited}. Note that
21841 running @value{GDBN} with the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode
21842 Options, -batch}) also automatically disables pagination.
21844 @item show pagination
21845 @kindex show pagination
21846 Show the current pagination mode.
21851 @cindex number representation
21852 @cindex entering numbers
21854 You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
21855 @value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
21856 @samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
21857 begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
21858 @samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
21859 10; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
21860 format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
21861 both input and output with the commands described below.
21864 @kindex set input-radix
21865 @item set input-radix @var{base}
21866 Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
21867 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
21868 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
21872 set input-radix 012
21873 set input-radix 10.
21874 set input-radix 0xa
21878 sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
21879 leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
21880 @samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
21881 interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
21882 @samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
21885 @kindex set output-radix
21886 @item set output-radix @var{base}
21887 Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
21888 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
21889 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
21891 @kindex show input-radix
21892 @item show input-radix
21893 Display the current default base for numeric input.
21895 @kindex show output-radix
21896 @item show output-radix
21897 Display the current default base for numeric display.
21899 @item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
21903 These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
21904 of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
21905 the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
21906 default value of 10.
21911 @section Configuring the Current ABI
21913 @value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
21914 application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
21915 conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
21921 @cindex Newlib OS ABI and its influence on the longjmp handling
21923 One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
21924 system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
21925 @value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
21926 but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
21927 One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
21928 an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
21929 not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
21932 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the AArch64 architecture, it provides a
21933 ``Newlib'' OS ABI. This is useful for handling @code{setjmp} and
21934 @code{longjmp} when debugging binaries that use the @sc{newlib} C library.
21935 The ``Newlib'' OS ABI can be selected by @code{set osabi Newlib}.
21939 Show the OS ABI currently in use.
21942 With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
21944 @item set osabi @var{abi}
21945 Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
21948 @cindex float promotion
21950 Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
21951 function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
21952 (i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
21953 according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
21954 (i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
21955 @code{double} and then passed.
21957 Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
21958 a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
21959 as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
21962 @kindex set coerce-float-to-double
21963 @item set coerce-float-to-double
21964 @itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
21965 Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
21966 to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
21968 @item set coerce-float-to-double off
21969 Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
21972 @kindex show coerce-float-to-double
21973 @item show coerce-float-to-double
21974 Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
21978 @kindex show cp-abi
21979 @value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
21980 objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
21981 used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
21982 programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
21983 multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
21984 program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
21985 Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
21986 before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
21987 ``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
21988 use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
21993 Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
21996 With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
21998 @item set cp-abi @var{abi}
21999 @itemx set cp-abi auto
22000 Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
22004 @section Automatically loading associated files
22005 @cindex auto-loading
22007 @value{GDBN} sometimes reads files with commands and settings automatically,
22008 without being explicitly told so by the user. We call this feature
22009 @dfn{auto-loading}. While auto-loading is useful for automatically adapting
22010 @value{GDBN} to the needs of your project, it can sometimes produce unexpected
22011 results or introduce security risks (e.g., if the file comes from untrusted
22014 Note that loading of these associated files (including the local @file{.gdbinit}
22015 file) requires accordingly configured @code{auto-load safe-path}
22016 (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
22018 For these reasons, @value{GDBN} includes commands and options to let you
22019 control when to auto-load files and which files should be auto-loaded.
22022 @anchor{set auto-load off}
22023 @kindex set auto-load off
22024 @item set auto-load off
22025 Globally disable loading of all auto-loaded files.
22026 You may want to use this command with the @samp{-iex} option
22027 (@pxref{Option -init-eval-command}) such as:
22029 $ @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load off" untrusted-executable corefile}
22032 Be aware that system init file (@pxref{System-wide configuration})
22033 and init files from your home directory (@pxref{Home Directory Init File})
22034 still get read (as they come from generally trusted directories).
22035 To prevent @value{GDBN} from auto-loading even those init files, use the
22036 @option{-nx} option (@pxref{Mode Options}), in addition to
22037 @code{set auto-load no}.
22039 @anchor{show auto-load}
22040 @kindex show auto-load
22041 @item show auto-load
22042 Show whether auto-loading of each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) is enabled
22046 (gdb) show auto-load
22047 gdb-scripts: Auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is on.
22048 libthread-db: Auto-loading of inferior specific libthread_db is on.
22049 local-gdbinit: Auto-loading of .gdbinit script from current directory
22051 python-scripts: Auto-loading of Python scripts is on.
22052 safe-path: List of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
22053 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
22054 scripts-directory: List of directories from which to load auto-loaded scripts
22055 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
22058 @anchor{info auto-load}
22059 @kindex info auto-load
22060 @item info auto-load
22061 Print whether each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) have been auto-loaded or
22065 (gdb) info auto-load
22068 Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb
22069 libthread-db: No auto-loaded libthread-db.
22070 local-gdbinit: Local .gdbinit file "/home/user/gdb/.gdbinit" has been
22074 Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py
22078 These are various kinds of files @value{GDBN} can automatically load:
22082 @xref{objfile-gdb.py file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
22084 @xref{objfile-gdb.gdb file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load gdb-scripts}.
22086 @xref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section},
22087 controlled by @ref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
22089 @xref{Init File in the Current Directory},
22090 controlled by @ref{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
22092 @xref{libthread_db.so.1 file}, controlled by @ref{set auto-load libthread-db}.
22095 These are @value{GDBN} control commands for the auto-loading:
22097 @multitable @columnfractions .5 .5
22098 @item @xref{set auto-load off}.
22099 @tab Disable auto-loading globally.
22100 @item @xref{show auto-load}.
22101 @tab Show setting of all kinds of files.
22102 @item @xref{info auto-load}.
22103 @tab Show state of all kinds of files.
22104 @item @xref{set auto-load gdb-scripts}.
22105 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} command scripts.
22106 @item @xref{show auto-load gdb-scripts}.
22107 @tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
22108 @item @xref{info auto-load gdb-scripts}.
22109 @tab Show state of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
22110 @item @xref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
22111 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
22112 @item @xref{show auto-load python-scripts}.
22113 @tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
22114 @item @xref{info auto-load python-scripts}.
22115 @tab Show state of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
22116 @item @xref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
22117 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
22118 @item @xref{show auto-load scripts-directory}.
22119 @tab Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
22120 @item @xref{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
22121 @tab Control for init file in the current directory.
22122 @item @xref{show auto-load local-gdbinit}.
22123 @tab Show setting of init file in the current directory.
22124 @item @xref{info auto-load local-gdbinit}.
22125 @tab Show state of init file in the current directory.
22126 @item @xref{set auto-load libthread-db}.
22127 @tab Control for thread debugging library.
22128 @item @xref{show auto-load libthread-db}.
22129 @tab Show setting of thread debugging library.
22130 @item @xref{info auto-load libthread-db}.
22131 @tab Show state of thread debugging library.
22132 @item @xref{set auto-load safe-path}.
22133 @tab Control directories trusted for automatic loading.
22134 @item @xref{show auto-load safe-path}.
22135 @tab Show directories trusted for automatic loading.
22136 @item @xref{add-auto-load-safe-path}.
22137 @tab Add directory trusted for automatic loading.
22141 * Init File in the Current Directory:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load local-gdbinit}
22142 * libthread_db.so.1 file:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load libthread-db}
22143 * objfile-gdb.gdb file:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load gdb-script}
22144 * Auto-loading safe path:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load safe-path}
22145 * Auto-loading verbose mode:: @samp{set/show debug auto-load}
22146 @xref{Python Auto-loading}.
22149 @node Init File in the Current Directory
22150 @subsection Automatically loading init file in the current directory
22151 @cindex auto-loading init file in the current directory
22153 By default, @value{GDBN} reads and executes the canned sequences of commands
22154 from init file (if any) in the current working directory,
22155 see @ref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}.
22157 Note that loading of this local @file{.gdbinit} file also requires accordingly
22158 configured @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
22161 @anchor{set auto-load local-gdbinit}
22162 @kindex set auto-load local-gdbinit
22163 @item set auto-load local-gdbinit [on|off]
22164 Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands
22165 (@pxref{Sequences}) found in init file in the current directory.
22167 @anchor{show auto-load local-gdbinit}
22168 @kindex show auto-load local-gdbinit
22169 @item show auto-load local-gdbinit
22170 Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands from init file in the
22171 current directory is enabled or disabled.
22173 @anchor{info auto-load local-gdbinit}
22174 @kindex info auto-load local-gdbinit
22175 @item info auto-load local-gdbinit
22176 Print whether canned sequences of commands from init file in the
22177 current directory have been auto-loaded.
22180 @node libthread_db.so.1 file
22181 @subsection Automatically loading thread debugging library
22182 @cindex auto-loading libthread_db.so.1
22184 This feature is currently present only on @sc{gnu}/Linux native hosts.
22186 @value{GDBN} reads in some cases thread debugging library from places specific
22187 to the inferior (@pxref{set libthread-db-search-path}).
22189 The special @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entry @samp{$sdir} is processed
22190 without checking this @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} switch as system
22191 libraries have to be trusted in general. In all other cases of
22192 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entries @value{GDBN} checks first if @samp{set
22193 auto-load libthread-db} is enabled before trying to open such thread debugging
22196 Note that loading of this debugging library also requires accordingly configured
22197 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
22200 @anchor{set auto-load libthread-db}
22201 @kindex set auto-load libthread-db
22202 @item set auto-load libthread-db [on|off]
22203 Enable or disable the auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library.
22205 @anchor{show auto-load libthread-db}
22206 @kindex show auto-load libthread-db
22207 @item show auto-load libthread-db
22208 Show whether auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library is
22209 enabled or disabled.
22211 @anchor{info auto-load libthread-db}
22212 @kindex info auto-load libthread-db
22213 @item info auto-load libthread-db
22214 Print the list of all loaded inferior specific thread debugging libraries and
22215 for each such library print list of inferior @var{pid}s using it.
22218 @node objfile-gdb.gdb file
22219 @subsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb} file
22220 @cindex auto-loading @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb}
22222 @value{GDBN} tries to load an @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb} file containing
22223 canned sequences of commands (@pxref{Sequences}), as long as @samp{set
22224 auto-load gdb-scripts} is set to @samp{on}.
22226 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
22227 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
22229 For more background refer to the similar Python scripts auto-loading
22230 description (@pxref{objfile-gdb.py file}).
22233 @anchor{set auto-load gdb-scripts}
22234 @kindex set auto-load gdb-scripts
22235 @item set auto-load gdb-scripts [on|off]
22236 Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts.
22238 @anchor{show auto-load gdb-scripts}
22239 @kindex show auto-load gdb-scripts
22240 @item show auto-load gdb-scripts
22241 Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is enabled or
22244 @anchor{info auto-load gdb-scripts}
22245 @kindex info auto-load gdb-scripts
22246 @cindex print list of auto-loaded canned sequences of commands scripts
22247 @item info auto-load gdb-scripts [@var{regexp}]
22248 Print the list of all canned sequences of commands scripts that @value{GDBN}
22252 If @var{regexp} is supplied only canned sequences of commands scripts with
22253 matching names are printed.
22255 @node Auto-loading safe path
22256 @subsection Security restriction for auto-loading
22257 @cindex auto-loading safe-path
22259 As the files of inferior can come from untrusted source (such as submitted by
22260 an application user) @value{GDBN} does not always load any files automatically.
22261 @value{GDBN} provides the @samp{set auto-load safe-path} setting to list
22262 directories trusted for loading files not explicitly requested by user.
22263 Each directory can also be a shell wildcard pattern.
22265 If the path is not set properly you will see a warning and the file will not
22270 Reading symbols from /home/user/gdb/gdb...done.
22271 warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been
22272 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
22273 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
22274 warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py" auto-loading has been
22275 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
22276 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
22280 To instruct @value{GDBN} to go ahead and use the init files anyway,
22281 invoke @value{GDBN} like this:
22284 $ gdb -q -iex "set auto-load safe-path /home/user/gdb" ./gdb
22287 The list of trusted directories is controlled by the following commands:
22290 @anchor{set auto-load safe-path}
22291 @kindex set auto-load safe-path
22292 @item set auto-load safe-path @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
22293 Set the list of directories (and their subdirectories) trusted for automatic
22294 loading and execution of scripts. You can also enter a specific trusted file.
22295 Each directory can also be a shell wildcard pattern; wildcards do not match
22296 directory separator - see @code{FNM_PATHNAME} for system function @code{fnmatch}
22297 (@pxref{Wildcard Matching, fnmatch, , libc, GNU C Library Reference Manual}).
22298 If you omit @var{directories}, @samp{auto-load safe-path} will be reset to
22299 its default value as specified during @value{GDBN} compilation.
22301 The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
22302 systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
22303 to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
22305 @anchor{show auto-load safe-path}
22306 @kindex show auto-load safe-path
22307 @item show auto-load safe-path
22308 Show the list of directories trusted for automatic loading and execution of
22311 @anchor{add-auto-load-safe-path}
22312 @kindex add-auto-load-safe-path
22313 @item add-auto-load-safe-path
22314 Add an entry (or list of entries) the list of directories trusted for automatic
22315 loading and execution of scripts. Multiple entries may be delimited by the
22316 host platform path separator in use.
22319 This variable defaults to what @code{--with-auto-load-dir} has been configured
22320 to (@pxref{with-auto-load-dir}). @file{$debugdir} and @file{$datadir}
22321 substitution applies the same as for @ref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
22322 The default @code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by
22323 @value{GDBN} configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-safe-path}.
22325 Setting this variable to @file{/} disables this security protection,
22326 corresponding @value{GDBN} configuration option is
22327 @option{--without-auto-load-safe-path}.
22328 This variable is supposed to be set to the system directories writable by the
22329 system superuser only. Users can add their source directories in init files in
22330 their home directories (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). See also deprecated
22331 init file in the current directory
22332 (@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}).
22334 To force @value{GDBN} to load the files it declined to load in the previous
22335 example, you could use one of the following ways:
22338 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{add-auto-load-safe-path ~/src/gdb}
22339 Specify this trusted directory (or a file) as additional component of the list.
22340 You have to specify also any existing directories displayed by
22341 by @samp{show auto-load safe-path} (such as @samp{/usr:/bin} in this example).
22343 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /usr:/bin:~/src/gdb" @dots{}}
22344 Specify this directory as in the previous case but just for a single
22345 @value{GDBN} session.
22347 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /" @dots{}}
22348 Disable auto-loading safety for a single @value{GDBN} session.
22349 This assumes all the files you debug during this @value{GDBN} session will come
22350 from trusted sources.
22352 @item @kbd{./configure --without-auto-load-safe-path}
22353 During compilation of @value{GDBN} you may disable any auto-loading safety.
22354 This assumes all the files you will ever debug with this @value{GDBN} come from
22358 On the other hand you can also explicitly forbid automatic files loading which
22359 also suppresses any such warning messages:
22362 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load no" @dots{}}
22363 You can use @value{GDBN} command-line option for a single @value{GDBN} session.
22365 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{set auto-load no}
22366 Disable auto-loading globally for the user
22367 (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). While it is improbable, you could also
22368 use system init file instead (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
22371 This setting applies to the file names as entered by user. If no entry matches
22372 @value{GDBN} tries as a last resort to also resolve all the file names into
22373 their canonical form (typically resolving symbolic links) and compare the
22374 entries again. @value{GDBN} already canonicalizes most of the filenames on its
22375 own before starting the comparison so a canonical form of directories is
22376 recommended to be entered.
22378 @node Auto-loading verbose mode
22379 @subsection Displaying files tried for auto-load
22380 @cindex auto-loading verbose mode
22382 For better visibility of all the file locations where you can place scripts to
22383 be auto-loaded with inferior --- or to protect yourself against accidental
22384 execution of untrusted scripts --- @value{GDBN} provides a feature for printing
22385 all the files attempted to be loaded. Both existing and non-existing files may
22388 For example the list of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
22389 (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}) applies also to canonicalized filenames which
22390 may not be too obvious while setting it up.
22393 (gdb) set debug auto-load on
22394 (gdb) file ~/src/t/true
22395 auto-load: Loading canned sequences of commands script "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb"
22396 for objfile "/tmp/true".
22397 auto-load: Updating directories of "/usr:/opt".
22398 auto-load: Using directory "/usr".
22399 auto-load: Using directory "/opt".
22400 warning: File "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been declined
22401 by your `auto-load safe-path' set to "/usr:/opt".
22405 @anchor{set debug auto-load}
22406 @kindex set debug auto-load
22407 @item set debug auto-load [on|off]
22408 Set whether to print the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded.
22410 @anchor{show debug auto-load}
22411 @kindex show debug auto-load
22412 @item show debug auto-load
22413 Show whether printing of the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded is turned
22417 @node Messages/Warnings
22418 @section Optional Warnings and Messages
22420 @cindex verbose operation
22421 @cindex optional warnings
22422 By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
22423 running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
22424 command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
22425 internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
22427 Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
22428 which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
22429 see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
22432 @kindex set verbose
22433 @item set verbose on
22434 Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
22436 @item set verbose off
22437 Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
22439 @kindex show verbose
22441 Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
22444 By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
22445 object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
22446 find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
22451 @kindex set complaints
22452 @item set complaints @var{limit}
22453 Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
22454 unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
22455 @var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
22456 to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
22458 @kindex show complaints
22459 @item show complaints
22460 Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
22464 @anchor{confirmation requests}
22465 By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
22466 lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
22467 you try to run a program which is already running:
22471 The program being debugged has been started already.
22472 Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
22475 If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
22476 commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
22480 @kindex set confirm
22482 @cindex confirmation
22483 @cindex stupid questions
22484 @item set confirm off
22485 Disables confirmation requests. Note that running @value{GDBN} with
22486 the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode Options, -batch}) also
22487 automatically disables confirmation requests.
22489 @item set confirm on
22490 Enables confirmation requests (the default).
22492 @kindex show confirm
22494 Displays state of confirmation requests.
22498 @cindex command tracing
22499 If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
22500 useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
22501 printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
22502 quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
22505 @kindex set trace-commands
22506 @cindex command scripts, debugging
22507 @item set trace-commands on
22508 Enable command tracing.
22509 @item set trace-commands off
22510 Disable command tracing.
22511 @item show trace-commands
22512 Display the current state of command tracing.
22515 @node Debugging Output
22516 @section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
22517 @cindex optional debugging messages
22519 @value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
22520 various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
22521 interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
22522 section documents those commands.
22525 @kindex set exec-done-display
22526 @item set exec-done-display
22527 Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
22528 completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
22529 asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
22530 @kindex show exec-done-display
22531 @item show exec-done-display
22532 Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
22535 @cindex ARM AArch64
22536 @item set debug aarch64
22537 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to ARM AArch64.
22538 The default is off.
22540 @item show debug aarch64
22541 Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
22543 @cindex gdbarch debugging info
22544 @cindex architecture debugging info
22545 @item set debug arch
22546 Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
22547 @item show debug arch
22548 Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
22549 @item set debug aix-solib
22550 @cindex AIX shared library debugging
22551 Control display of debugging messages from the AIX shared library
22552 support module. The default is off.
22553 @item show debug aix-thread
22554 Show the current state of displaying AIX shared library debugging messages.
22555 @item set debug aix-thread
22556 @cindex AIX threads
22557 Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
22559 @item show debug aix-thread
22560 Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
22561 @item set debug check-physname
22563 Check the results of the ``physname'' computation. When reading DWARF
22564 debugging information for C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} attempts to compute
22565 each entity's name. @value{GDBN} can do this computation in two
22566 different ways, depending on exactly what information is present.
22567 When enabled, this setting causes @value{GDBN} to compute the names
22568 both ways and display any discrepancies.
22569 @item show debug check-physname
22570 Show the current state of ``physname'' checking.
22571 @item set debug coff-pe-read
22572 @cindex COFF/PE exported symbols
22573 Control display of debugging messages related to reading of COFF/PE
22574 exported symbols. The default is off.
22575 @item show debug coff-pe-read
22576 Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
22577 reading of COFF/PE exported symbols.
22578 @item set debug dwarf2-die
22579 @cindex DWARF2 DIEs
22580 Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
22581 The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
22582 A value of zero turns off the display.
22583 @item show debug dwarf2-die
22584 Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
22585 @item set debug dwarf2-read
22586 @cindex DWARF2 Reading
22587 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to reading
22588 DWARF debug info. The default is off.
22589 @item show debug dwarf2-read
22590 Show the current state of DWARF2 reader debugging.
22591 @item set debug displaced
22592 @cindex displaced stepping debugging info
22593 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
22594 displaced stepping support. The default is off.
22595 @item show debug displaced
22596 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
22597 related to displaced stepping.
22598 @item set debug event
22599 @cindex event debugging info
22600 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
22602 @item show debug event
22603 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
22605 @item set debug expression
22606 @cindex expression debugging info
22607 Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
22608 expression parsing. The default is off.
22609 @item show debug expression
22610 Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
22611 @value{GDBN} expression parsing.
22612 @item set debug frame
22613 @cindex frame debugging info
22614 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
22616 @item show debug frame
22617 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
22619 @item set debug gnu-nat
22620 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
22621 Turns on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
22622 @item show debug gnu-nat
22623 Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
22624 @item set debug infrun
22625 @cindex inferior debugging info
22626 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
22627 The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
22628 for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
22629 @item show debug infrun
22630 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
22631 @item set debug jit
22632 @cindex just-in-time compilation, debugging messages
22633 Turns on or off debugging messages from JIT debug support.
22634 @item show debug jit
22635 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} JIT debugging.
22636 @item set debug lin-lwp
22637 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
22638 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
22639 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
22640 @item show debug lin-lwp
22641 Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
22642 @item set debug mach-o
22643 @cindex Mach-O symbols processing
22644 Control display of debugging messages related to Mach-O symbols
22645 processing. The default is off.
22646 @item show debug mach-o
22647 Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
22648 reading of COFF/PE exported symbols.
22649 @item set debug notification
22650 @cindex remote async notification debugging info
22651 Turns on or off debugging messages about remote async notification.
22652 The default is off.
22653 @item show debug notification
22654 Displays the current state of remote async notification debugging messages.
22655 @item set debug observer
22656 @cindex observer debugging info
22657 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
22658 includes info such as the notification of observable events.
22659 @item show debug observer
22660 Displays the current state of observer debugging.
22661 @item set debug overload
22662 @cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
22663 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
22664 info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
22666 @item show debug overload
22667 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
22669 @cindex expression parser, debugging info
22670 @cindex debug expression parser
22671 @item set debug parser
22672 Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
22673 Internally, this sets the @code{yydebug} variable in the expression
22674 parser. @xref{Tracing, , Tracing Your Parser, bison, Bison}, for
22675 details. The default is off.
22676 @item show debug parser
22677 Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
22678 @cindex packets, reporting on stdout
22679 @cindex serial connections, debugging
22680 @cindex debug remote protocol
22681 @cindex remote protocol debugging
22682 @cindex display remote packets
22683 @item set debug remote
22684 Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
22685 the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
22686 @value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
22687 @item show debug remote
22688 Displays the state of display of remote packets.
22689 @item set debug serial
22690 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
22692 @item show debug serial
22693 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
22695 @item set debug solib-frv
22696 @cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
22697 Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
22698 @item show debug solib-frv
22699 Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
22701 @item set debug symfile
22702 @cindex symbol file functions
22703 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to symbol file functions.
22704 The default is off. @xref{Files}.
22705 @item show debug symfile
22706 Show the current state of symbol file debugging messages.
22707 @item set debug symtab-create
22708 @cindex symbol table creation
22709 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to symbol table creation.
22710 The default is off.
22711 @item show debug symtab-create
22712 Show the current state of symbol table creation debugging.
22713 @item set debug target
22714 @cindex target debugging info
22715 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
22716 includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
22717 default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
22718 value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
22719 until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
22720 @item show debug target
22721 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
22723 @item set debug timestamp
22724 @cindex timestampping debugging info
22725 Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
22726 When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
22728 @item show debug timestamp
22729 Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
22731 @item set debugvarobj
22732 @cindex variable object debugging info
22733 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
22734 info. The default is off.
22735 @item show debugvarobj
22736 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
22738 @item set debug xml
22739 @cindex XML parser debugging
22740 Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
22741 @item show debug xml
22742 Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
22745 @node Other Misc Settings
22746 @section Other Miscellaneous Settings
22747 @cindex miscellaneous settings
22750 @kindex set interactive-mode
22751 @item set interactive-mode
22752 If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to assume that GDB was started
22753 in a terminal. In practice, this means that @value{GDBN} should wait
22754 for the user to answer queries generated by commands entered at
22755 the command prompt. If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate
22756 in the opposite mode, and it uses the default answers to all queries.
22757 If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} tries to determine whether
22758 its standard input is a terminal, and works in interactive-mode if it
22759 is, non-interactively otherwise.
22761 In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
22762 correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
22763 in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
22764 inside a cygwin window.
22766 @kindex show interactive-mode
22767 @item show interactive-mode
22768 Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
22771 @node Extending GDB
22772 @chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
22773 @cindex extending GDB
22775 @value{GDBN} provides three mechanisms for extension. The first is based
22776 on composition of @value{GDBN} commands, the second is based on the
22777 Python scripting language, and the third is for defining new aliases of
22780 To facilitate the use of the first two extensions, @value{GDBN} is capable
22781 of evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, @value{GDBN}
22782 can recognize which scripting language is being used by looking at
22783 the filename extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension
22784 are always treated as a @value{GDBN} Command Files.
22785 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
22787 You can control how @value{GDBN} evaluates these files with the following
22791 @kindex set script-extension
22792 @kindex show script-extension
22793 @item set script-extension off
22794 All scripts are always evaluated as @value{GDBN} Command Files.
22796 @item set script-extension soft
22797 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
22798 extension. If this scripting language is supported, @value{GDBN}
22799 evaluates the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates
22800 the file as a @value{GDBN} Command File.
22802 @item set script-extension strict
22803 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
22804 extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
22805 language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
22807 @item show script-extension
22808 Display the current value of the @code{script-extension} option.
22813 * Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
22814 * Python:: Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
22815 * Aliases:: Creating new spellings of existing commands
22819 @section Canned Sequences of Commands
22821 Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
22822 Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
22823 commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
22827 * Define:: How to define your own commands
22828 * Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
22829 * Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
22830 * Output:: Commands for controlled output
22834 @subsection User-defined Commands
22836 @cindex user-defined command
22837 @cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
22838 A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
22839 which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
22840 @code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
22841 separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
22842 via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
22846 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
22851 To execute the command use:
22858 This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
22859 its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
22860 reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
22863 @cindex argument count in user-defined commands
22864 @cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
22865 In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
22866 been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
22871 print $arg0 + $arg1
22874 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
22882 @item define @var{commandname}
22883 Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
22884 by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
22885 @var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
22886 numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
22887 prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
22888 a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
22890 The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
22891 which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
22892 commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
22895 @kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
22896 @item document @var{commandname}
22897 Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
22898 accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
22899 defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
22900 reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
22901 After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
22902 @var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
22904 You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
22905 documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
22906 does not change the documentation.
22908 @kindex dont-repeat
22909 @cindex don't repeat command
22911 Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
22912 command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
22913 (@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
22915 @kindex help user-defined
22916 @item help user-defined
22917 List all user-defined commands and all python commands defined in class
22918 COMAND_USER. The first line of the documentation or docstring is
22923 @itemx show user @var{commandname}
22924 Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
22925 not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
22926 definitions for all user-defined commands.
22927 This does not work for user-defined python commands.
22929 @cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
22930 @kindex show max-user-call-depth
22931 @kindex set max-user-call-depth
22932 @item show max-user-call-depth
22933 @itemx set max-user-call-depth
22934 The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
22935 levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
22936 infinite recursion and aborts the command.
22937 This does not apply to user-defined python commands.
22940 In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
22941 use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
22943 When user-defined commands are executed, the
22944 commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
22945 stops execution of the user-defined command.
22947 If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
22948 without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
22949 commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
22950 messages when used in a user-defined command.
22953 @subsection User-defined Command Hooks
22954 @cindex command hooks
22955 @cindex hooks, for commands
22956 @cindex hooks, pre-command
22959 You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
22960 command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
22961 command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
22962 before that command.
22964 @cindex hooks, post-command
22966 A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
22967 Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
22968 @samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
22969 that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
22970 pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
22972 It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
22973 occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
22975 @c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
22976 @c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
22978 @kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
22979 In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
22980 (@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
22981 execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
22982 displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
22984 For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
22985 single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
22990 handle SIGALRM nopass
22994 handle SIGALRM pass
22997 define hook-continue
22998 handle SIGALRM pass
23002 As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
23003 command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
23011 define hookpost-echo
23015 (@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
23016 <<<---Hello World--->>>
23021 You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
23022 not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
23023 name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
23024 @c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
23026 You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
23027 @code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
23028 @samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
23030 If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
23031 @value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
23032 (before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
23034 If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
23035 get a warning from the @code{define} command.
23037 @node Command Files
23038 @subsection Command Files
23040 @cindex command files
23041 @cindex scripting commands
23042 A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
23043 @value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
23044 also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
23045 does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
23048 You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
23049 command. Note that the @code{source} command is also used to evaluate
23050 scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be configured
23051 using the @code{script-extension} setting.
23052 @xref{Extending GDB,, Extending GDB}.
23056 @cindex execute commands from a file
23057 @item source [-s] [-v] @var{filename}
23058 Execute the command file @var{filename}.
23061 The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
23062 unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
23063 @emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
23064 printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
23065 execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
23067 @value{GDBN} first searches for @var{filename} in the current directory.
23068 If the file is not found there, and @var{filename} does not specify a
23069 directory, then @value{GDBN} also looks for the file on the source search path
23070 (specified with the @samp{directory} command);
23071 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched because the compilation directory
23072 is not relevant to scripts.
23074 If @code{-s} is specified, then @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename}
23075 on the search path even if @var{filename} specifies a directory.
23076 The search is done by appending @var{filename} to each element of the
23077 search path. So, for example, if @var{filename} is @file{mylib/myscript}
23078 and the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
23079 look for the script @file{/home/user/mylib/myscript}.
23080 The search is also done if @var{filename} is an absolute path.
23081 For example, if @var{filename} is @file{/tmp/myscript} and
23082 the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
23083 look for the script @file{/home/user/tmp/myscript}.
23084 For DOS-like systems, if @var{filename} contains a drive specification,
23085 it is stripped before concatenation. For example, if @var{filename} is
23086 @file{d:myscript} and the search path contains @file{c:/tmp} then @value{GDBN}
23087 will look for the script @file{c:/tmp/myscript}.
23089 If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
23090 each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
23091 @var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
23093 Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
23094 without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
23095 normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
23096 when called from command files.
23098 @value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
23099 mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
23100 standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
23101 not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
23105 gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
23108 (The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
23109 will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
23110 would be directed to @file{log}.
23112 Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
23113 commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
23114 complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
23115 variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
23116 built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
23117 deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
23118 complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
23119 conditionally, etc.
23126 This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
23127 commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
23128 expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
23129 are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
23130 There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
23131 of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
23132 end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
23136 This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
23137 @code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
23138 to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
23139 line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
23140 @dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
23141 executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
23145 This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
23146 Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
23149 @kindex loop_continue
23150 @item loop_continue
23151 This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
23152 in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
23153 branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
23154 the controlling expression.
23156 @kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
23158 Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
23159 @code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
23164 @subsection Commands for Controlled Output
23166 During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
23167 @value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
23168 explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
23169 describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
23174 @item echo @var{text}
23175 @c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
23176 @c because it is not in ANSI.
23177 Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
23178 @var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
23179 newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
23180 In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
23181 by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
23182 string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
23183 trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
23184 To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
23185 @samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
23187 A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
23188 the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
23191 echo This is some text\n\
23192 which is continued\n\
23193 onto several lines.\n
23196 produces the same output as
23199 echo This is some text\n
23200 echo which is continued\n
23201 echo onto several lines.\n
23205 @item output @var{expression}
23206 Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
23207 newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
23208 value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
23211 @item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
23212 Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
23213 the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
23214 Formats}, for more information.
23217 @item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
23218 Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
23219 the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
23220 @var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
23221 which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
23222 specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
23223 executing the code below:
23226 printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
23229 As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
23230 are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
23231 by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
23232 evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
23233 style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
23236 For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
23239 printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
23242 @code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
23243 specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
23244 character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
23248 The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
23251 The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
23255 The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
23256 @code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
23259 The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
23263 The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
23266 The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
23270 Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
23271 underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
23272 the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
23273 supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
23275 As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
23276 sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
23277 @samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
23278 single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
23281 Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
23282 (@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
23283 together with a floating point specifier.
23288 @samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
23291 @samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
23294 @samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
23297 If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
23298 support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
23299 such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
23301 In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
23302 available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
23304 Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
23306 printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
23310 @item eval @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
23311 Convert the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
23312 the string @var{template} to a command line, and call it.
23317 @section Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
23318 @cindex python scripting
23319 @cindex scripting with python
23321 You can script @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
23322 Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
23323 @value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
23325 @cindex python directory
23326 Python scripts used by @value{GDBN} should be installed in
23327 @file{@var{data-directory}/python}, where @var{data-directory} is
23328 the data directory as determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}).
23329 This directory, known as the @dfn{python directory},
23330 is automatically added to the Python Search Path in order to allow
23331 the Python interpreter to locate all scripts installed at this location.
23333 Additionally, @value{GDBN} commands and convenience functions which
23334 are written in Python and are located in the
23335 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/command} or
23336 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/function} directories are
23337 automatically imported when @value{GDBN} starts.
23340 * Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
23341 * Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
23342 * Python Auto-loading:: Automatically loading Python code.
23343 * Python modules:: Python modules provided by @value{GDBN}.
23346 @node Python Commands
23347 @subsection Python Commands
23348 @cindex python commands
23349 @cindex commands to access python
23351 @value{GDBN} provides two commands for accessing the Python interpreter,
23352 and one related setting:
23355 @kindex python-interactive
23357 @item python-interactive @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
23358 @itemx pi @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
23359 Without an argument, the @code{python-interactive} command can be used
23360 to start an interactive Python prompt. To return to @value{GDBN},
23361 type the @code{EOF} character (e.g., @kbd{Ctrl-D} on an empty prompt).
23363 Alternatively, a single-line Python command can be given as an
23364 argument and evaluated. If the command is an expression, the result
23365 will be printed; otherwise, nothing will be printed. For example:
23368 (@value{GDBP}) python-interactive 2 + 3
23374 @item python @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
23375 @itemx py @r{[}@var{command}@r{]}
23376 The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
23378 If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
23379 argument as a Python command. For example:
23382 (@value{GDBP}) python print 23
23386 If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
23387 multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
23388 script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
23389 @code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
23390 containing @code{end}. For example:
23393 (@value{GDBP}) python
23395 End with a line saying just "end".
23401 @kindex set python print-stack
23402 @item set python print-stack
23403 By default, @value{GDBN} will print only the message component of a
23404 Python exception when an error occurs in a Python script. This can be
23405 controlled using @code{set python print-stack}: if @code{full}, then
23406 full Python stack printing is enabled; if @code{none}, then Python stack
23407 and message printing is disabled; if @code{message}, the default, only
23408 the message component of the error is printed.
23411 It is also possible to execute a Python script from the @value{GDBN}
23415 @item source @file{script-name}
23416 The script name must end with @samp{.py} and @value{GDBN} must be configured
23417 to recognize the script language based on filename extension using
23418 the @code{script-extension} setting. @xref{Extending GDB, ,Extending GDB}.
23420 @item python execfile ("script-name")
23421 This method is based on the @code{execfile} Python built-in function,
23422 and thus is always available.
23426 @subsection Python API
23428 @cindex programming in python
23430 You can get quick online help for @value{GDBN}'s Python API by issuing
23431 the command @w{@kbd{python help (gdb)}}.
23433 Functions and methods which have two or more optional arguments allow
23434 them to be specified using keyword syntax. This allows passing some
23435 optional arguments while skipping others. Example:
23436 @w{@code{gdb.some_function ('foo', bar = 1, baz = 2)}}.
23439 * Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
23440 * Exception Handling:: How Python exceptions are translated.
23441 * Values From Inferior:: Python representation of values.
23442 * Types In Python:: Python representation of types.
23443 * Pretty Printing API:: Pretty-printing values.
23444 * Selecting Pretty-Printers:: How GDB chooses a pretty-printer.
23445 * Writing a Pretty-Printer:: Writing a Pretty-Printer.
23446 * Type Printing API:: Pretty-printing types.
23447 * Frame Filter API:: Filtering Frames.
23448 * Frame Decorator API:: Decorating Frames.
23449 * Writing a Frame Filter:: Writing a Frame Filter.
23450 * Inferiors In Python:: Python representation of inferiors (processes)
23451 * Events In Python:: Listening for events from @value{GDBN}.
23452 * Threads In Python:: Accessing inferior threads from Python.
23453 * Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
23454 * Parameters In Python:: Adding new @value{GDBN} parameters.
23455 * Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
23456 * Progspaces In Python:: Program spaces.
23457 * Objfiles In Python:: Object files.
23458 * Frames In Python:: Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
23459 * Blocks In Python:: Accessing blocks from Python.
23460 * Symbols In Python:: Python representation of symbols.
23461 * Symbol Tables In Python:: Python representation of symbol tables.
23462 * Breakpoints In Python:: Manipulating breakpoints using Python.
23463 * Finish Breakpoints in Python:: Setting Breakpoints on function return
23465 * Lazy Strings In Python:: Python representation of lazy strings.
23466 * Architectures In Python:: Python representation of architectures.
23470 @subsubsection Basic Python
23472 @cindex python stdout
23473 @cindex python pagination
23474 At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
23475 @code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
23476 A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
23477 output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
23478 situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
23480 Some care must be taken when writing Python code to run in
23481 @value{GDBN}. Two things worth noting in particular:
23485 @value{GDBN} install handlers for @code{SIGCHLD} and @code{SIGINT}.
23486 Python code must not override these, or even change the options using
23487 @code{sigaction}. If your program changes the handling of these
23488 signals, @value{GDBN} will most likely stop working correctly. Note
23489 that it is unfortunately common for GUI toolkits to install a
23490 @code{SIGCHLD} handler.
23493 @value{GDBN} takes care to mark its internal file descriptors as
23494 close-on-exec. However, this cannot be done in a thread-safe way on
23495 all platforms. Your Python programs should be aware of this and
23496 should both create new file descriptors with the close-on-exec flag
23497 set and arrange to close unneeded file descriptors before starting a
23501 @cindex python functions
23502 @cindex python module
23504 @value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
23505 methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
23506 @value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
23507 use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
23509 @findex gdb.PYTHONDIR
23510 @defvar gdb.PYTHONDIR
23511 A string containing the python directory (@pxref{Python}).
23514 @findex gdb.execute
23515 @defun gdb.execute (command @r{[}, from_tty @r{[}, to_string@r{]]})
23516 Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
23517 If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
23518 translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
23520 @var{from_tty} specifies whether @value{GDBN} ought to consider this
23521 command as having originated from the user invoking it interactively.
23522 It must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to @code{False}.
23524 By default, any output produced by @var{command} is sent to
23525 @value{GDBN}'s standard output. If the @var{to_string} parameter is
23526 @code{True}, then output will be collected by @code{gdb.execute} and
23527 returned as a string. The default is @code{False}, in which case the
23528 return value is @code{None}. If @var{to_string} is @code{True}, the
23529 @value{GDBN} virtual terminal will be temporarily set to unlimited width
23530 and height, and its pagination will be disabled; @pxref{Screen Size}.
23533 @findex gdb.breakpoints
23534 @defun gdb.breakpoints ()
23535 Return a sequence holding all of @value{GDBN}'s breakpoints.
23536 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for more information.
23539 @findex gdb.parameter
23540 @defun gdb.parameter (parameter)
23541 Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
23542 string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
23543 spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
23544 @samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
23546 If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
23547 @code{gdb.error} (@pxref{Exception Handling}). Otherwise, the
23548 parameter's value is converted to a Python value of the appropriate
23549 type, and returned.
23552 @findex gdb.history
23553 @defun gdb.history (number)
23554 Return a value from @value{GDBN}'s value history (@pxref{Value
23555 History}). @var{number} indicates which history element to return.
23556 If @var{number} is negative, then @value{GDBN} will take its absolute value
23557 and count backward from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to
23558 find the value to return. If @var{number} is zero, then @value{GDBN} will
23559 return the most recent element. If the element specified by @var{number}
23560 doesn't exist in the value history, a @code{gdb.error} exception will be
23563 If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance of
23564 @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From Inferior}).
23567 @findex gdb.parse_and_eval
23568 @defun gdb.parse_and_eval (expression)
23569 Parse @var{expression} as an expression in the current language,
23570 evaluate it, and return the result as a @code{gdb.Value}.
23571 @var{expression} must be a string.
23573 This function can be useful when implementing a new command
23574 (@pxref{Commands In Python}), as it provides a way to parse the
23575 command's argument as an expression. It is also useful simply to
23576 compute values, for example, it is the only way to get the value of a
23577 convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) as a @code{gdb.Value}.
23580 @findex gdb.find_pc_line
23581 @defun gdb.find_pc_line (pc)
23582 Return the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object corresponding to the
23583 @var{pc} value. @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}. If an invalid
23584 value of @var{pc} is passed as an argument, then the @code{symtab} and
23585 @code{line} attributes of the returned @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object
23586 will be @code{None} and 0 respectively.
23589 @findex gdb.post_event
23590 @defun gdb.post_event (event)
23591 Put @var{event}, a callable object taking no arguments, into
23592 @value{GDBN}'s internal event queue. This callable will be invoked at
23593 some later point, during @value{GDBN}'s event processing. Events
23594 posted using @code{post_event} will be run in the order in which they
23595 were posted; however, there is no way to know when they will be
23596 processed relative to other events inside @value{GDBN}.
23598 @value{GDBN} is not thread-safe. If your Python program uses multiple
23599 threads, you must be careful to only call @value{GDBN}-specific
23600 functions in the main @value{GDBN} thread. @code{post_event} ensures
23604 (@value{GDBP}) python
23608 > def __init__(self, message):
23609 > self.message = message;
23610 > def __call__(self):
23611 > gdb.write(self.message)
23613 >class MyThread1 (threading.Thread):
23615 > gdb.post_event(Writer("Hello "))
23617 >class MyThread2 (threading.Thread):
23619 > gdb.post_event(Writer("World\n"))
23621 >MyThread1().start()
23622 >MyThread2().start()
23624 (@value{GDBP}) Hello World
23629 @defun gdb.write (string @r{[}, stream{]})
23630 Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated output stream. The
23631 optional @var{stream} determines the stream to print to. The default
23632 stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible stream
23639 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
23644 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
23649 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
23652 Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
23653 call this function and will automatically direct the output to the
23658 @defun gdb.flush ()
23659 Flush the buffer of a @value{GDBN} paginated stream so that the
23660 contents are displayed immediately. @value{GDBN} will flush the
23661 contents of a stream automatically when it encounters a newline in the
23662 buffer. The optional @var{stream} determines the stream to flush. The
23663 default stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible
23670 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
23675 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
23680 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
23684 Flushing @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
23685 call this function for the relevant stream.
23688 @findex gdb.target_charset
23689 @defun gdb.target_charset ()
23690 Return the name of the current target character set (@pxref{Character
23691 Sets}). This differs from @code{gdb.parameter('target-charset')} in
23692 that @samp{auto} is never returned.
23695 @findex gdb.target_wide_charset
23696 @defun gdb.target_wide_charset ()
23697 Return the name of the current target wide character set
23698 (@pxref{Character Sets}). This differs from
23699 @code{gdb.parameter('target-wide-charset')} in that @samp{auto} is
23703 @findex gdb.solib_name
23704 @defun gdb.solib_name (address)
23705 Return the name of the shared library holding the given @var{address}
23706 as a string, or @code{None}.
23709 @findex gdb.decode_line
23710 @defun gdb.decode_line @r{[}expression@r{]}
23711 Return locations of the line specified by @var{expression}, or of the
23712 current line if no argument was given. This function returns a Python
23713 tuple containing two elements. The first element contains a string
23714 holding any unparsed section of @var{expression} (or @code{None} if
23715 the expression has been fully parsed). The second element contains
23716 either @code{None} or another tuple that contains all the locations
23717 that match the expression represented as @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line}
23718 objects (@pxref{Symbol Tables In Python}). If @var{expression} is
23719 provided, it is decoded the way that @value{GDBN}'s inbuilt
23720 @code{break} or @code{edit} commands do (@pxref{Specify Location}).
23723 @defun gdb.prompt_hook (current_prompt)
23724 @anchor{prompt_hook}
23726 If @var{prompt_hook} is callable, @value{GDBN} will call the method
23727 assigned to this operation before a prompt is displayed by
23730 The parameter @code{current_prompt} contains the current @value{GDBN}
23731 prompt. This method must return a Python string, or @code{None}. If
23732 a string is returned, the @value{GDBN} prompt will be set to that
23733 string. If @code{None} is returned, @value{GDBN} will continue to use
23734 the current prompt.
23736 Some prompts cannot be substituted in @value{GDBN}. Secondary prompts
23737 such as those used by readline for command input, and annotation
23738 related prompts are prohibited from being changed.
23741 @node Exception Handling
23742 @subsubsection Exception Handling
23743 @cindex python exceptions
23744 @cindex exceptions, python
23746 When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
23747 uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
23748 @value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
23749 @code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
23750 terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
23751 exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
23752 backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
23755 (@value{GDBP}) python print foo
23756 Traceback (most recent call last):
23757 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
23758 NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
23761 @value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by
23762 Python code are converted to Python exceptions. The type of the
23763 Python exception depends on the error.
23767 This is the base class for most exceptions generated by @value{GDBN}.
23768 It is derived from @code{RuntimeError}, for compatibility with earlier
23769 versions of @value{GDBN}.
23771 If an error occurring in @value{GDBN} does not fit into some more
23772 specific category, then the generated exception will have this type.
23774 @item gdb.MemoryError
23775 This is a subclass of @code{gdb.error} which is thrown when an
23776 operation tried to access invalid memory in the inferior.
23778 @item KeyboardInterrupt
23779 User interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
23780 prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception.
23783 In all cases, your exception handler will see the @value{GDBN} error
23784 message as its value and the Python call stack backtrace at the Python
23785 statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
23788 @findex gdb.GdbError
23789 When implementing @value{GDBN} commands in Python via @code{gdb.Command},
23790 it is useful to be able to throw an exception that doesn't cause a
23791 traceback to be printed. For example, the user may have invoked the
23792 command incorrectly. Use the @code{gdb.GdbError} exception
23793 to handle this case. Example:
23797 >class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
23798 > """Greet the whole world."""
23799 > def __init__ (self):
23800 > super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_USER)
23801 > def invoke (self, args, from_tty):
23802 > argv = gdb.string_to_argv (args)
23803 > if len (argv) != 0:
23804 > raise gdb.GdbError ("hello-world takes no arguments")
23805 > print "Hello, World!"
23808 (gdb) hello-world 42
23809 hello-world takes no arguments
23812 @node Values From Inferior
23813 @subsubsection Values From Inferior
23814 @cindex values from inferior, with Python
23815 @cindex python, working with values from inferior
23817 @cindex @code{gdb.Value}
23818 @value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
23819 an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
23820 for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
23821 fetching values when necessary.
23823 Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
23824 Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
23825 an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
23832 As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
23833 whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
23835 Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
23836 be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
23837 @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
23838 can access its @code{foo} element with:
23841 bar = some_val['foo']
23844 Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object.
23846 A @code{gdb.Value} that represents a function can be executed via
23847 inferior function call. Any arguments provided to the call must match
23848 the function's prototype, and must be provided in the order specified
23851 For example, @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance
23852 representing a function that takes two integers as arguments. To
23853 execute this function, call it like so:
23856 result = some_val (10,20)
23859 Any values returned from a function call will be stored as a
23862 The following attributes are provided:
23864 @defvar Value.address
23865 If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds a
23866 @code{gdb.Value} object representing the address. Otherwise,
23867 this attribute holds @code{None}.
23870 @cindex optimized out value in Python
23871 @defvar Value.is_optimized_out
23872 This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler optimized out
23873 this value, thus it is not available for fetching from the inferior.
23877 The type of this @code{gdb.Value}. The value of this attribute is a
23878 @code{gdb.Type} object (@pxref{Types In Python}).
23881 @defvar Value.dynamic_type
23882 The dynamic type of this @code{gdb.Value}. This uses C@t{++} run-time
23883 type information (@acronym{RTTI}) to determine the dynamic type of the
23884 value. If this value is of class type, it will return the class in
23885 which the value is embedded, if any. If this value is of pointer or
23886 reference to a class type, it will compute the dynamic type of the
23887 referenced object, and return a pointer or reference to that type,
23888 respectively. In all other cases, it will return the value's static
23891 Note that this feature will only work when debugging a C@t{++} program
23892 that includes @acronym{RTTI} for the object in question. Otherwise,
23893 it will just return the static type of the value as in @kbd{ptype foo}
23894 (@pxref{Symbols, ptype}).
23897 @defvar Value.is_lazy
23898 The value of this read-only boolean attribute is @code{True} if this
23899 @code{gdb.Value} has not yet been fetched from the inferior.
23900 @value{GDBN} does not fetch values until necessary, for efficiency.
23904 myval = gdb.parse_and_eval ('somevar')
23907 The value of @code{somevar} is not fetched at this time. It will be
23908 fetched when the value is needed, or when the @code{fetch_lazy}
23912 The following methods are provided:
23914 @defun Value.__init__ (@var{val})
23915 Many Python values can be converted directly to a @code{gdb.Value} via
23916 this object initializer. Specifically:
23919 @item Python boolean
23920 A Python boolean is converted to the boolean type from the current
23923 @item Python integer
23924 A Python integer is converted to the C @code{long} type for the
23925 current architecture.
23928 A Python long is converted to the C @code{long long} type for the
23929 current architecture.
23932 A Python float is converted to the C @code{double} type for the
23933 current architecture.
23935 @item Python string
23936 A Python string is converted to a target string, using the current
23939 @item @code{gdb.Value}
23940 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.Value}, then a copy of the value is made.
23942 @item @code{gdb.LazyString}
23943 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings In
23944 Python}), then the lazy string's @code{value} method is called, and
23945 its result is used.
23949 @defun Value.cast (type)
23950 Return a new instance of @code{gdb.Value} that is the result of
23951 casting this instance to the type described by @var{type}, which must
23952 be a @code{gdb.Type} object. If the cast cannot be performed for some
23953 reason, this method throws an exception.
23956 @defun Value.dereference ()
23957 For pointer data types, this method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object
23958 whose contents is the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if
23959 @code{foo} is a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
23966 then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
23967 @code{foo} points to like this:
23970 bar = foo.dereference ()
23973 The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
23974 value pointed to by @code{foo}.
23976 A similar function @code{Value.referenced_value} exists which also
23977 returns @code{gdb.Value} objects corresonding to the values pointed to
23978 by pointer values (and additionally, values referenced by reference
23979 values). However, the behavior of @code{Value.dereference}
23980 differs from @code{Value.referenced_value} by the fact that the
23981 behavior of @code{Value.dereference} is identical to applying the C
23982 unary operator @code{*} on a given value. For example, consider a
23983 reference to a pointer @code{ptrref}, declared in your C@t{++} program
23987 typedef int *intptr;
23991 intptr &ptrref = ptr;
23994 Though @code{ptrref} is a reference value, one can apply the method
23995 @code{Value.dereference} to the @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding
23996 to it and obtain a @code{gdb.Value} which is identical to that
23997 corresponding to @code{val}. However, if you apply the method
23998 @code{Value.referenced_value}, the result would be a @code{gdb.Value}
23999 object identical to that corresponding to @code{ptr}.
24002 py_ptrref = gdb.parse_and_eval ("ptrref")
24003 py_val = py_ptrref.dereference ()
24004 py_ptr = py_ptrref.referenced_value ()
24007 The @code{gdb.Value} object @code{py_val} is identical to that
24008 corresponding to @code{val}, and @code{py_ptr} is identical to that
24009 corresponding to @code{ptr}. In general, @code{Value.dereference} can
24010 be applied whenever the C unary operator @code{*} can be applied
24011 to the corresponding C value. For those cases where applying both
24012 @code{Value.dereference} and @code{Value.referenced_value} is allowed,
24013 the results obtained need not be identical (as we have seen in the above
24014 example). The results are however identical when applied on
24015 @code{gdb.Value} objects corresponding to pointers (@code{gdb.Value}
24016 objects with type code @code{TYPE_CODE_PTR}) in a C/C@t{++} program.
24019 @defun Value.referenced_value ()
24020 For pointer or reference data types, this method returns a new
24021 @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding to the value referenced by the
24022 pointer/reference value. For pointer data types,
24023 @code{Value.dereference} and @code{Value.referenced_value} produce
24024 identical results. The difference between these methods is that
24025 @code{Value.dereference} cannot get the values referenced by reference
24026 values. For example, consider a reference to an @code{int}, declared
24027 in your C@t{++} program as
24035 then applying @code{Value.dereference} to the @code{gdb.Value} object
24036 corresponding to @code{ref} will result in an error, while applying
24037 @code{Value.referenced_value} will result in a @code{gdb.Value} object
24038 identical to that corresponding to @code{val}.
24041 py_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval ("ref")
24042 er_ref = py_ref.dereference () # Results in error
24043 py_val = py_ref.referenced_value () # Returns the referenced value
24046 The @code{gdb.Value} object @code{py_val} is identical to that
24047 corresponding to @code{val}.
24050 @defun Value.dynamic_cast (type)
24051 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{dynamic_cast}
24052 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
24055 @defun Value.reinterpret_cast (type)
24056 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{reinterpret_cast}
24057 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
24060 @defun Value.string (@r{[}encoding@r{[}, errors@r{[}, length@r{]]]})
24061 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
24062 converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this method will
24063 throw an exception.
24065 Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a given
24066 @code{gdb.Value} represents a string is determined by the current
24069 For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer to or an
24070 array of characters or ints. The string is assumed to be terminated
24071 by a zero of the appropriate width. However if the optional length
24072 argument is given, the string will be converted to that given length,
24073 ignoring any embedded zeros that the string may contain.
24075 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
24076 naming the encoding of the string in the @code{gdb.Value}, such as
24077 @code{"ascii"}, @code{"iso-8859-6"} or @code{"utf-8"}. It accepts
24078 the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
24079 @code{string.decode} method, and the Python codec machinery will be used
24080 to convert the string. If @var{encoding} is not given, or if
24081 @var{encoding} is the empty string, then either the @code{target-charset}
24082 (@pxref{Character Sets}) will be used, or a language-specific encoding
24083 will be used, if the current language is able to supply one.
24085 The optional @var{errors} argument is the same as the corresponding
24086 argument to Python's @code{string.decode} method.
24088 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
24089 fetched and converted to the given length.
24092 @defun Value.lazy_string (@r{[}encoding @r{[}, length@r{]]})
24093 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
24094 converts the contents to a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings
24095 In Python}). Otherwise, this method will throw an exception.
24097 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
24098 naming the encoding of the @code{gdb.LazyString}. Some examples are:
24099 @samp{ascii}, @samp{iso-8859-6} or @samp{utf-8}. If the
24100 @var{encoding} argument is an encoding that @value{GDBN} does
24101 recognize, @value{GDBN} will raise an error.
24103 When a lazy string is printed, the @value{GDBN} encoding machinery is
24104 used to convert the string during printing. If the optional
24105 @var{encoding} argument is not provided, or is an empty string,
24106 @value{GDBN} will automatically select the encoding most suitable for
24107 the string type. For further information on encoding in @value{GDBN}
24108 please see @ref{Character Sets}.
24110 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
24111 fetched and encoded to the length of characters specified. If
24112 the @var{length} argument is not provided, the string will be fetched
24113 and encoded until a null of appropriate width is found.
24116 @defun Value.fetch_lazy ()
24117 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is currently a lazy value
24118 (@code{gdb.Value.is_lazy} is @code{True}), then the value is
24119 fetched from the inferior. Any errors that occur in the process
24120 will produce a Python exception.
24122 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is not a lazy value, this method
24125 This method does not return a value.
24129 @node Types In Python
24130 @subsubsection Types In Python
24131 @cindex types in Python
24132 @cindex Python, working with types
24135 @value{GDBN} represents types from the inferior using the class
24138 The following type-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
24141 @findex gdb.lookup_type
24142 @defun gdb.lookup_type (name @r{[}, block@r{]})
24143 This function looks up a type by name. @var{name} is the name of the
24144 type to look up. It must be a string.
24146 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
24147 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
24149 Ordinarily, this function will return an instance of @code{gdb.Type}.
24150 If the named type cannot be found, it will throw an exception.
24153 If the type is a structure or class type, or an enum type, the fields
24154 of that type can be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}.
24155 For example, if @code{some_type} is a @code{gdb.Type} instance holding
24156 a structure type, you can access its @code{foo} field with:
24159 bar = some_type['foo']
24162 @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Field} object; see below under the
24163 description of the @code{Type.fields} method for a description of the
24164 @code{gdb.Field} class.
24166 An instance of @code{Type} has the following attributes:
24169 The type code for this type. The type code will be one of the
24170 @code{TYPE_CODE_} constants defined below.
24173 @defvar Type.sizeof
24174 The size of this type, in target @code{char} units. Usually, a
24175 target's @code{char} type will be an 8-bit byte. However, on some
24176 unusual platforms, this type may have a different size.
24180 The tag name for this type. The tag name is the name after
24181 @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} in C and C@t{++}; not all
24182 languages have this concept. If this type has no tag name, then
24183 @code{None} is returned.
24186 The following methods are provided:
24188 @defun Type.fields ()
24189 For structure and union types, this method returns the fields. Range
24190 types have two fields, the minimum and maximum values. Enum types
24191 have one field per enum constant. Function and method types have one
24192 field per parameter. The base types of C@t{++} classes are also
24193 represented as fields. If the type has no fields, or does not fit
24194 into one of these categories, an empty sequence will be returned.
24196 Each field is a @code{gdb.Field} object, with some pre-defined attributes:
24199 This attribute is not available for @code{static} fields (as in
24200 C@t{++} or Java). For non-@code{static} fields, the value is the bit
24201 position of the field. For @code{enum} fields, the value is the
24202 enumeration member's integer representation.
24205 The name of the field, or @code{None} for anonymous fields.
24208 This is @code{True} if the field is artificial, usually meaning that
24209 it was provided by the compiler and not the user. This attribute is
24210 always provided, and is @code{False} if the field is not artificial.
24212 @item is_base_class
24213 This is @code{True} if the field represents a base class of a C@t{++}
24214 structure. This attribute is always provided, and is @code{False}
24215 if the field is not a base class of the type that is the argument of
24216 @code{fields}, or if that type was not a C@t{++} class.
24219 If the field is packed, or is a bitfield, then this will have a
24220 non-zero value, which is the size of the field in bits. Otherwise,
24221 this will be zero; in this case the field's size is given by its type.
24224 The type of the field. This is usually an instance of @code{Type},
24225 but it can be @code{None} in some situations.
24229 @defun Type.array (@var{n1} @r{[}, @var{n2}@r{]})
24230 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an array of this
24231 type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
24232 the array; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
24233 given, the first argument is the lower bound of the array, and the
24234 second argument is the upper bound of the array. An array's length
24235 must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
24238 @defun Type.vector (@var{n1} @r{[}, @var{n2}@r{]})
24239 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a vector of this
24240 type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
24241 the vector; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
24242 given, the first argument is the lower bound of the vector, and the
24243 second argument is the upper bound of the vector. A vector's length
24244 must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
24246 The difference between an @code{array} and a @code{vector} is that
24247 arrays behave like in C: when used in expressions they decay to a pointer
24248 to the first element whereas vectors are treated as first class values.
24251 @defun Type.const ()
24252 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
24253 @code{const}-qualified variant of this type.
24256 @defun Type.volatile ()
24257 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
24258 @code{volatile}-qualified variant of this type.
24261 @defun Type.unqualified ()
24262 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an unqualified
24263 variant of this type. That is, the result is neither @code{const} nor
24267 @defun Type.range ()
24268 Return a Python @code{Tuple} object that contains two elements: the
24269 low bound of the argument type and the high bound of that type. If
24270 the type does not have a range, @value{GDBN} will raise a
24271 @code{gdb.error} exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
24274 @defun Type.reference ()
24275 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a reference to this
24279 @defun Type.pointer ()
24280 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a pointer to this
24284 @defun Type.strip_typedefs ()
24285 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} that represents the real type,
24286 after removing all layers of typedefs.
24289 @defun Type.target ()
24290 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents the target type
24293 For a pointer type, the target type is the type of the pointed-to
24294 object. For an array type (meaning C-like arrays), the target type is
24295 the type of the elements of the array. For a function or method type,
24296 the target type is the type of the return value. For a complex type,
24297 the target type is the type of the elements. For a typedef, the
24298 target type is the aliased type.
24300 If the type does not have a target, this method will throw an
24304 @defun Type.template_argument (n @r{[}, block@r{]})
24305 If this @code{gdb.Type} is an instantiation of a template, this will
24306 return a new @code{gdb.Type} which represents the type of the
24307 @var{n}th template argument.
24309 If this @code{gdb.Type} is not a template type, this will throw an
24310 exception. Ordinarily, only C@t{++} code will have template types.
24312 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
24313 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
24317 Each type has a code, which indicates what category this type falls
24318 into. The available type categories are represented by constants
24319 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
24322 @findex TYPE_CODE_PTR
24323 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
24324 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
24325 The type is a pointer.
24327 @findex TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
24328 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
24329 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
24330 The type is an array.
24332 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
24333 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
24334 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
24335 The type is a structure.
24337 @findex TYPE_CODE_UNION
24338 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
24339 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
24340 The type is a union.
24342 @findex TYPE_CODE_ENUM
24343 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
24344 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
24345 The type is an enum.
24347 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
24348 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
24349 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
24350 A bit flags type, used for things such as status registers.
24352 @findex TYPE_CODE_FUNC
24353 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
24354 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
24355 The type is a function.
24357 @findex TYPE_CODE_INT
24358 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
24359 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
24360 The type is an integer type.
24362 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLT
24363 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
24364 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
24365 A floating point type.
24367 @findex TYPE_CODE_VOID
24368 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
24369 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
24370 The special type @code{void}.
24372 @findex TYPE_CODE_SET
24373 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
24374 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
24377 @findex TYPE_CODE_RANGE
24378 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
24379 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
24380 A range type, that is, an integer type with bounds.
24382 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRING
24383 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
24384 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
24385 A string type. Note that this is only used for certain languages with
24386 language-defined string types; C strings are not represented this way.
24388 @findex TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
24389 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
24390 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
24391 A string of bits. It is deprecated.
24393 @findex TYPE_CODE_ERROR
24394 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
24395 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
24396 An unknown or erroneous type.
24398 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHOD
24399 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
24400 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
24401 A method type, as found in C@t{++} or Java.
24403 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
24404 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
24405 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
24406 A pointer-to-member-function.
24408 @findex TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
24409 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
24410 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
24411 A pointer-to-member.
24413 @findex TYPE_CODE_REF
24414 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
24415 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
24418 @findex TYPE_CODE_CHAR
24419 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
24420 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
24423 @findex TYPE_CODE_BOOL
24424 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
24425 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
24428 @findex TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
24429 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
24430 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
24431 A complex float type.
24433 @findex TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
24434 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
24435 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
24436 A typedef to some other type.
24438 @findex TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
24439 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
24440 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
24441 A C@t{++} namespace.
24443 @findex TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
24444 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
24445 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
24446 A decimal floating point type.
24448 @findex TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
24449 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
24450 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
24451 A function internal to @value{GDBN}. This is the type used to represent
24452 convenience functions.
24455 Further support for types is provided in the @code{gdb.types}
24456 Python module (@pxref{gdb.types}).
24458 @node Pretty Printing API
24459 @subsubsection Pretty Printing API
24461 An example output is provided (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
24463 A pretty-printer is just an object that holds a value and implements a
24464 specific interface, defined here.
24466 @defun pretty_printer.children (self)
24467 @value{GDBN} will call this method on a pretty-printer to compute the
24468 children of the pretty-printer's value.
24470 This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
24471 protocol. Each item returned by the iterator must be a tuple holding
24472 two elements. The first element is the ``name'' of the child; the
24473 second element is the child's value. The value can be any Python
24474 object which is convertible to a @value{GDBN} value.
24476 This method is optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will act
24477 as though the value has no children.
24480 @defun pretty_printer.display_hint (self)
24481 The CLI may call this method and use its result to change the
24482 formatting of a value. The result will also be supplied to an MI
24483 consumer as a @samp{displayhint} attribute of the variable being
24486 This method is optional. If it does exist, this method must return a
24489 Some display hints are predefined by @value{GDBN}:
24493 Indicate that the object being printed is ``array-like''. The CLI
24494 uses this to respect parameters such as @code{set print elements} and
24495 @code{set print array}.
24498 Indicate that the object being printed is ``map-like'', and that the
24499 children of this value can be assumed to alternate between keys and
24503 Indicate that the object being printed is ``string-like''. If the
24504 printer's @code{to_string} method returns a Python string of some
24505 kind, then @value{GDBN} will call its internal language-specific
24506 string-printing function to format the string. For the CLI this means
24507 adding quotation marks, possibly escaping some characters, respecting
24508 @code{set print elements}, and the like.
24512 @defun pretty_printer.to_string (self)
24513 @value{GDBN} will call this method to display the string
24514 representation of the value passed to the object's constructor.
24516 When printing from the CLI, if the @code{to_string} method exists,
24517 then @value{GDBN} will prepend its result to the values returned by
24518 @code{children}. Exactly how this formatting is done is dependent on
24519 the display hint, and may change as more hints are added. Also,
24520 depending on the print settings (@pxref{Print Settings}), the CLI may
24521 print just the result of @code{to_string} in a stack trace, omitting
24522 the result of @code{children}.
24524 If this method returns a string, it is printed verbatim.
24526 Otherwise, if this method returns an instance of @code{gdb.Value},
24527 then @value{GDBN} prints this value. This may result in a call to
24528 another pretty-printer.
24530 If instead the method returns a Python value which is convertible to a
24531 @code{gdb.Value}, then @value{GDBN} performs the conversion and prints
24532 the resulting value. Again, this may result in a call to another
24533 pretty-printer. Python scalars (integers, floats, and booleans) and
24534 strings are convertible to @code{gdb.Value}; other types are not.
24536 Finally, if this method returns @code{None} then no further operations
24537 are peformed in this method and nothing is printed.
24539 If the result is not one of these types, an exception is raised.
24542 @value{GDBN} provides a function which can be used to look up the
24543 default pretty-printer for a @code{gdb.Value}:
24545 @findex gdb.default_visualizer
24546 @defun gdb.default_visualizer (value)
24547 This function takes a @code{gdb.Value} object as an argument. If a
24548 pretty-printer for this value exists, then it is returned. If no such
24549 printer exists, then this returns @code{None}.
24552 @node Selecting Pretty-Printers
24553 @subsubsection Selecting Pretty-Printers
24555 The Python list @code{gdb.pretty_printers} contains an array of
24556 functions or callable objects that have been registered via addition
24557 as a pretty-printer. Printers in this list are called @code{global}
24558 printers, they're available when debugging all inferiors.
24559 Each @code{gdb.Progspace} contains a @code{pretty_printers} attribute.
24560 Each @code{gdb.Objfile} also contains a @code{pretty_printers}
24563 Each function on these lists is passed a single @code{gdb.Value}
24564 argument and should return a pretty-printer object conforming to the
24565 interface definition above (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}). If a function
24566 cannot create a pretty-printer for the value, it should return
24569 @value{GDBN} first checks the @code{pretty_printers} attribute of each
24570 @code{gdb.Objfile} in the current program space and iteratively calls
24571 each enabled lookup routine in the list for that @code{gdb.Objfile}
24572 until it receives a pretty-printer object.
24573 If no pretty-printer is found in the objfile lists, @value{GDBN} then
24574 searches the pretty-printer list of the current program space,
24575 calling each enabled function until an object is returned.
24576 After these lists have been exhausted, it tries the global
24577 @code{gdb.pretty_printers} list, again calling each enabled function until an
24578 object is returned.
24580 The order in which the objfiles are searched is not specified. For a
24581 given list, functions are always invoked from the head of the list,
24582 and iterated over sequentially until the end of the list, or a printer
24583 object is returned.
24585 For various reasons a pretty-printer may not work.
24586 For example, the underlying data structure may have changed and
24587 the pretty-printer is out of date.
24589 The consequences of a broken pretty-printer are severe enough that
24590 @value{GDBN} provides support for enabling and disabling individual
24591 printers. For example, if @code{print frame-arguments} is on,
24592 a backtrace can become highly illegible if any argument is printed
24593 with a broken printer.
24595 Pretty-printers are enabled and disabled by attaching an @code{enabled}
24596 attribute to the registered function or callable object. If this attribute
24597 is present and its value is @code{False}, the printer is disabled, otherwise
24598 the printer is enabled.
24600 @node Writing a Pretty-Printer
24601 @subsubsection Writing a Pretty-Printer
24602 @cindex writing a pretty-printer
24604 A pretty-printer consists of two parts: a lookup function to detect
24605 if the type is supported, and the printer itself.
24607 Here is an example showing how a @code{std::string} printer might be
24608 written. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for details on the API this class
24612 class StdStringPrinter(object):
24613 "Print a std::string"
24615 def __init__(self, val):
24618 def to_string(self):
24619 return self.val['_M_dataplus']['_M_p']
24621 def display_hint(self):
24625 And here is an example showing how a lookup function for the printer
24626 example above might be written.
24629 def str_lookup_function(val):
24630 lookup_tag = val.type.tag
24631 if lookup_tag == None:
24633 regex = re.compile("^std::basic_string<char,.*>$")
24634 if regex.match(lookup_tag):
24635 return StdStringPrinter(val)
24639 The example lookup function extracts the value's type, and attempts to
24640 match it to a type that it can pretty-print. If it is a type the
24641 printer can pretty-print, it will return a printer object. If not, it
24642 returns @code{None}.
24644 We recommend that you put your core pretty-printers into a Python
24645 package. If your pretty-printers are for use with a library, we
24646 further recommend embedding a version number into the package name.
24647 This practice will enable @value{GDBN} to load multiple versions of
24648 your pretty-printers at the same time, because they will have
24651 You should write auto-loaded code (@pxref{Python Auto-loading}) such that it
24652 can be evaluated multiple times without changing its meaning. An
24653 ideal auto-load file will consist solely of @code{import}s of your
24654 printer modules, followed by a call to a register pretty-printers with
24655 the current objfile.
24657 Taken as a whole, this approach will scale nicely to multiple
24658 inferiors, each potentially using a different library version.
24659 Embedding a version number in the Python package name will ensure that
24660 @value{GDBN} is able to load both sets of printers simultaneously.
24661 Then, because the search for pretty-printers is done by objfile, and
24662 because your auto-loaded code took care to register your library's
24663 printers with a specific objfile, @value{GDBN} will find the correct
24664 printers for the specific version of the library used by each
24667 To continue the @code{std::string} example (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}),
24668 this code might appear in @code{gdb.libstdcxx.v6}:
24671 def register_printers(objfile):
24672 objfile.pretty_printers.append(str_lookup_function)
24676 And then the corresponding contents of the auto-load file would be:
24679 import gdb.libstdcxx.v6
24680 gdb.libstdcxx.v6.register_printers(gdb.current_objfile())
24683 The previous example illustrates a basic pretty-printer.
24684 There are a few things that can be improved on.
24685 The printer doesn't have a name, making it hard to identify in a
24686 list of installed printers. The lookup function has a name, but
24687 lookup functions can have arbitrary, even identical, names.
24689 Second, the printer only handles one type, whereas a library typically has
24690 several types. One could install a lookup function for each desired type
24691 in the library, but one could also have a single lookup function recognize
24692 several types. The latter is the conventional way this is handled.
24693 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
24694 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
24696 The @code{gdb.printing} module provides a formal way of solving these
24697 problems (@pxref{gdb.printing}).
24698 Here is another example that handles multiple types.
24700 These are the types we are going to pretty-print:
24703 struct foo @{ int a, b; @};
24704 struct bar @{ struct foo x, y; @};
24707 Here are the printers:
24711 """Print a foo object."""
24713 def __init__(self, val):
24716 def to_string(self):
24717 return ("a=<" + str(self.val["a"]) +
24718 "> b=<" + str(self.val["b"]) + ">")
24721 """Print a bar object."""
24723 def __init__(self, val):
24726 def to_string(self):
24727 return ("x=<" + str(self.val["x"]) +
24728 "> y=<" + str(self.val["y"]) + ">")
24731 This example doesn't need a lookup function, that is handled by the
24732 @code{gdb.printing} module. Instead a function is provided to build up
24733 the object that handles the lookup.
24736 import gdb.printing
24738 def build_pretty_printer():
24739 pp = gdb.printing.RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter(
24741 pp.add_printer('foo', '^foo$', fooPrinter)
24742 pp.add_printer('bar', '^bar$', barPrinter)
24746 And here is the autoload support:
24749 import gdb.printing
24751 gdb.printing.register_pretty_printer(
24752 gdb.current_objfile(),
24753 my_library.build_pretty_printer())
24756 Finally, when this printer is loaded into @value{GDBN}, here is the
24757 corresponding output of @samp{info pretty-printer}:
24760 (gdb) info pretty-printer
24767 @node Type Printing API
24768 @subsubsection Type Printing API
24769 @cindex type printing API for Python
24771 @value{GDBN} provides a way for Python code to customize type display.
24772 This is mainly useful for substituting canonical typedef names for
24775 @cindex type printer
24776 A @dfn{type printer} is just a Python object conforming to a certain
24777 protocol. A simple base class implementing the protocol is provided;
24778 see @ref{gdb.types}. A type printer must supply at least:
24780 @defivar type_printer enabled
24781 A boolean which is True if the printer is enabled, and False
24782 otherwise. This is manipulated by the @code{enable type-printer}
24783 and @code{disable type-printer} commands.
24786 @defivar type_printer name
24787 The name of the type printer. This must be a string. This is used by
24788 the @code{enable type-printer} and @code{disable type-printer}
24792 @defmethod type_printer instantiate (self)
24793 This is called by @value{GDBN} at the start of type-printing. It is
24794 only called if the type printer is enabled. This method must return a
24795 new object that supplies a @code{recognize} method, as described below.
24799 When displaying a type, say via the @code{ptype} command, @value{GDBN}
24800 will compute a list of type recognizers. This is done by iterating
24801 first over the per-objfile type printers (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}),
24802 followed by the per-progspace type printers (@pxref{Progspaces In
24803 Python}), and finally the global type printers.
24805 @value{GDBN} will call the @code{instantiate} method of each enabled
24806 type printer. If this method returns @code{None}, then the result is
24807 ignored; otherwise, it is appended to the list of recognizers.
24809 Then, when @value{GDBN} is going to display a type name, it iterates
24810 over the list of recognizers. For each one, it calls the recognition
24811 function, stopping if the function returns a non-@code{None} value.
24812 The recognition function is defined as:
24814 @defmethod type_recognizer recognize (self, type)
24815 If @var{type} is not recognized, return @code{None}. Otherwise,
24816 return a string which is to be printed as the name of @var{type}.
24817 @var{type} will be an instance of @code{gdb.Type} (@pxref{Types In
24821 @value{GDBN} uses this two-pass approach so that type printers can
24822 efficiently cache information without holding on to it too long. For
24823 example, it can be convenient to look up type information in a type
24824 printer and hold it for a recognizer's lifetime; if a single pass were
24825 done then type printers would have to make use of the event system in
24826 order to avoid holding information that could become stale as the
24829 @node Frame Filter API
24830 @subsubsection Filtering Frames.
24831 @cindex frame filters api
24833 Frame filters are Python objects that manipulate the visibility of a
24834 frame or frames when a backtrace (@pxref{Backtrace}) is printed by
24837 Only commands that print a backtrace, or, in the case of @sc{gdb/mi}
24838 commands (@pxref{GDB/MI}), those that return a collection of frames
24839 are affected. The commands that work with frame filters are:
24841 @code{backtrace} (@pxref{backtrace-command,, The backtrace command}),
24842 @code{-stack-list-frames}
24843 (@pxref{-stack-list-frames,, The -stack-list-frames command}),
24844 @code{-stack-list-variables} (@pxref{-stack-list-variables,, The
24845 -stack-list-variables command}), @code{-stack-list-arguments}
24846 @pxref{-stack-list-arguments,, The -stack-list-arguments command}) and
24847 @code{-stack-list-locals} (@pxref{-stack-list-locals,, The
24848 -stack-list-locals command}).
24850 A frame filter works by taking an iterator as an argument, applying
24851 actions to the contents of that iterator, and returning another
24852 iterator (or, possibly, the same iterator it was provided in the case
24853 where the filter does not perform any operations). Typically, frame
24854 filters utilize tools such as the Python's @code{itertools} module to
24855 work with and create new iterators from the source iterator.
24856 Regardless of how a filter chooses to apply actions, it must not alter
24857 the underlying @value{GDBN} frame or frames, or attempt to alter the
24858 call-stack within @value{GDBN}. This preserves data integrity within
24859 @value{GDBN}. Frame filters are executed on a priority basis and care
24860 should be taken that some frame filters may have been executed before,
24861 and that some frame filters will be executed after.
24863 An important consideration when designing frame filters, and well
24864 worth reflecting upon, is that frame filters should avoid unwinding
24865 the call stack if possible. Some stacks can run very deep, into the
24866 tens of thousands in some cases. To search every frame when a frame
24867 filter executes may be too expensive at that step. The frame filter
24868 cannot know how many frames it has to iterate over, and it may have to
24869 iterate through them all. This ends up duplicating effort as
24870 @value{GDBN} performs this iteration when it prints the frames. If
24871 the filter can defer unwinding frames until frame decorators are
24872 executed, after the last filter has executed, it should. @xref{Frame
24873 Decorator API}, for more information on decorators. Also, there are
24874 examples for both frame decorators and filters in later chapters.
24875 @xref{Writing a Frame Filter}, for more information.
24877 The Python dictionary @code{gdb.frame_filters} contains key/object
24878 pairings that comprise a frame filter. Frame filters in this
24879 dictionary are called @code{global} frame filters, and they are
24880 available when debugging all inferiors. These frame filters must
24881 register with the dictionary directly. In addition to the
24882 @code{global} dictionary, there are other dictionaries that are loaded
24883 with different inferiors via auto-loading (@pxref{Python
24884 Auto-loading}). The two other areas where frame filter dictionaries
24885 can be found are: @code{gdb.Progspace} which contains a
24886 @code{frame_filters} dictionary attribute, and each @code{gdb.Objfile}
24887 object which also contains a @code{frame_filters} dictionary
24890 When a command is executed from @value{GDBN} that is compatible with
24891 frame filters, @value{GDBN} combines the @code{global},
24892 @code{gdb.Progspace} and all @code{gdb.Objfile} dictionaries currently
24893 loaded. All of the @code{gdb.Objfile} dictionaries are combined, as
24894 several frames, and thus several object files, might be in use.
24895 @value{GDBN} then prunes any frame filter whose @code{enabled}
24896 attribute is @code{False}. This pruned list is then sorted according
24897 to the @code{priority} attribute in each filter.
24899 Once the dictionaries are combined, pruned and sorted, @value{GDBN}
24900 creates an iterator which wraps each frame in the call stack in a
24901 @code{FrameDecorator} object, and calls each filter in order. The
24902 output from the previous filter will always be the input to the next
24905 Frame filters have a mandatory interface which each frame filter must
24906 implement, defined here:
24908 @defun FrameFilter.filter (iterator)
24909 @value{GDBN} will call this method on a frame filter when it has
24910 reached the order in the priority list for that filter.
24912 For example, if there are four frame filters:
24923 The order that the frame filters will be called is:
24926 Filter3 -> Filter2 -> Filter1 -> Filter4
24929 Note that the output from @code{Filter3} is passed to the input of
24930 @code{Filter2}, and so on.
24932 This @code{filter} method is passed a Python iterator. This iterator
24933 contains a sequence of frame decorators that wrap each
24934 @code{gdb.Frame}, or a frame decorator that wraps another frame
24935 decorator. The first filter that is executed in the sequence of frame
24936 filters will receive an iterator entirely comprised of default
24937 @code{FrameDecorator} objects. However, after each frame filter is
24938 executed, the previous frame filter may have wrapped some or all of
24939 the frame decorators with their own frame decorator. As frame
24940 decorators must also conform to a mandatory interface, these
24941 decorators can be assumed to act in a uniform manner (@pxref{Frame
24944 This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
24945 protocol. Each item in the iterator must be an object conforming to
24946 the frame decorator interface. If a frame filter does not wish to
24947 perform any operations on this iterator, it should return that
24948 iterator untouched.
24950 This method is not optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will
24951 raise and print an error.
24954 @defvar FrameFilter.name
24955 The @code{name} attribute must be Python string which contains the
24956 name of the filter displayed by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Frame Filter
24957 Management}). This attribute may contain any combination of letters
24958 or numbers. Care should be taken to ensure that it is unique. This
24959 attribute is mandatory.
24962 @defvar FrameFilter.enabled
24963 The @code{enabled} attribute must be Python boolean. This attribute
24964 indicates to @value{GDBN} whether the frame filter is enabled, and
24965 should be considered when frame filters are executed. If
24966 @code{enabled} is @code{True}, then the frame filter will be executed
24967 when any of the backtrace commands detailed earlier in this chapter
24968 are executed. If @code{enabled} is @code{False}, then the frame
24969 filter will not be executed. This attribute is mandatory.
24972 @defvar FrameFilter.priority
24973 The @code{priority} attribute must be Python integer. This attribute
24974 controls the order of execution in relation to other frame filters.
24975 There are no imposed limits on the range of @code{priority} other than
24976 it must be a valid integer. The higher the @code{priority} attribute,
24977 the sooner the frame filter will be executed in relation to other
24978 frame filters. Although @code{priority} can be negative, it is
24979 recommended practice to assume zero is the lowest priority that a
24980 frame filter can be assigned. Frame filters that have the same
24981 priority are executed in unsorted order in that priority slot. This
24982 attribute is mandatory.
24985 @node Frame Decorator API
24986 @subsubsection Decorating Frames.
24987 @cindex frame decorator api
24989 Frame decorators are sister objects to frame filters (@pxref{Frame
24990 Filter API}). Frame decorators are applied by a frame filter and can
24991 only be used in conjunction with frame filters.
24993 The purpose of a frame decorator is to customize the printed content
24994 of each @code{gdb.Frame} in commands where frame filters are executed.
24995 This concept is called decorating a frame. Frame decorators decorate
24996 a @code{gdb.Frame} with Python code contained within each API call.
24997 This separates the actual data contained in a @code{gdb.Frame} from
24998 the decorated data produced by a frame decorator. This abstraction is
24999 necessary to maintain integrity of the data contained in each
25002 Frame decorators have a mandatory interface, defined below.
25004 @value{GDBN} already contains a frame decorator called
25005 @code{FrameDecorator}. This contains substantial amounts of
25006 boilerplate code to decorate the content of a @code{gdb.Frame}. It is
25007 recommended that other frame decorators inherit and extend this
25008 object, and only to override the methods needed.
25010 @defun FrameDecorator.elided (self)
25012 The @code{elided} method groups frames together in a hierarchical
25013 system. An example would be an interpreter, where multiple low-level
25014 frames make up a single call in the interpreted language. In this
25015 example, the frame filter would elide the low-level frames and present
25016 a single high-level frame, representing the call in the interpreted
25017 language, to the user.
25019 The @code{elided} function must return an iterable and this iterable
25020 must contain the frames that are being elided wrapped in a suitable
25021 frame decorator. If no frames are being elided this function may
25022 return an empty iterable, or @code{None}. Elided frames are indented
25023 from normal frames in a @code{CLI} backtrace, or in the case of
25024 @code{GDB/MI}, are placed in the @code{children} field of the eliding
25027 It is the frame filter's task to also filter out the elided frames from
25028 the source iterator. This will avoid printing the frame twice.
25031 @defun FrameDecorator.function (self)
25033 This method returns the name of the function in the frame that is to
25036 This method must return a Python string describing the function, or
25039 If this function returns @code{None}, @value{GDBN} will not print any
25040 data for this field.
25043 @defun FrameDecorator.address (self)
25045 This method returns the address of the frame that is to be printed.
25047 This method must return a Python numeric integer type of sufficient
25048 size to describe the address of the frame, or @code{None}.
25050 If this function returns a @code{None}, @value{GDBN} will not print
25051 any data for this field.
25054 @defun FrameDecorator.filename (self)
25056 This method returns the filename and path associated with this frame.
25058 This method must return a Python string containing the filename and
25059 the path to the object file backing the frame, or @code{None}.
25061 If this function returns a @code{None}, @value{GDBN} will not print
25062 any data for this field.
25065 @defun FrameDecorator.line (self):
25067 This method returns the line number associated with the current
25068 position within the function addressed by this frame.
25070 This method must return a Python integer type, or @code{None}.
25072 If this function returns a @code{None}, @value{GDBN} will not print
25073 any data for this field.
25076 @defun FrameDecorator.frame_args (self)
25077 @anchor{frame_args}
25079 This method must return an iterable, or @code{None}. Returning an
25080 empty iterable, or @code{None} means frame arguments will not be
25081 printed for this frame. This iterable must contain objects that
25082 implement two methods, described here.
25084 This object must implement a @code{argument} method which takes a
25085 single @code{self} parameter and must return a @code{gdb.Symbol}
25086 (@pxref{Symbols In Python}), or a Python string. The object must also
25087 implement a @code{value} method which takes a single @code{self}
25088 parameter and must return a @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From
25089 Inferior}), a Python value, or @code{None}. If the @code{value}
25090 method returns @code{None}, and the @code{argument} method returns a
25091 @code{gdb.Symbol}, @value{GDBN} will look-up and print the value of
25092 the @code{gdb.Symbol} automatically.
25097 class SymValueWrapper():
25099 def __init__(self, symbol, value):
25109 class SomeFrameDecorator()
25112 def frame_args(self):
25115 block = self.inferior_frame.block()
25119 # Iterate over all symbols in a block. Only add
25120 # symbols that are arguments.
25122 if not sym.is_argument:
25124 args.append(SymValueWrapper(sym,None))
25126 # Add example synthetic argument.
25127 args.append(SymValueWrapper(``foo'', 42))
25133 @defun FrameDecorator.frame_locals (self)
25135 This method must return an iterable or @code{None}. Returning an
25136 empty iterable, or @code{None} means frame local arguments will not be
25137 printed for this frame.
25139 The object interface, the description of the various strategies for
25140 reading frame locals, and the example are largely similar to those
25141 described in the @code{frame_args} function, (@pxref{frame_args,,The
25142 frame filter frame_args function}). Below is a modified example:
25145 class SomeFrameDecorator()
25148 def frame_locals(self):
25151 block = self.inferior_frame.block()
25155 # Iterate over all symbols in a block. Add all
25156 # symbols, except arguments.
25158 if sym.is_argument:
25160 vars.append(SymValueWrapper(sym,None))
25162 # Add an example of a synthetic local variable.
25163 vars.append(SymValueWrapper(``bar'', 99))
25169 @defun FrameDecorator.inferior_frame (self):
25171 This method must return the underlying @code{gdb.Frame} that this
25172 frame decorator is decorating. @value{GDBN} requires the underlying
25173 frame for internal frame information to determine how to print certain
25174 values when printing a frame.
25177 @node Writing a Frame Filter
25178 @subsubsection Writing a Frame Filter
25179 @cindex writing a frame filter
25181 There are three basic elements that a frame filter must implement: it
25182 must correctly implement the documented interface (@pxref{Frame Filter
25183 API}), it must register itself with @value{GDBN}, and finally, it must
25184 decide if it is to work on the data provided by @value{GDBN}. In all
25185 cases, whether it works on the iterator or not, each frame filter must
25186 return an iterator. A bare-bones frame filter follows the pattern in
25187 the following example.
25192 class FrameFilter():
25194 def __init__(self):
25195 # Frame filter attribute creation.
25197 # 'name' is the name of the filter that GDB will display.
25199 # 'priority' is the priority of the filter relative to other
25202 # 'enabled' is a boolean that indicates whether this filter is
25203 # enabled and should be executed.
25206 self.priority = 100
25207 self.enabled = True
25209 # Register this frame filter with the global frame_filters
25211 gdb.frame_filters[self.name] = self
25213 def filter(self, frame_iter):
25214 # Just return the iterator.
25218 The frame filter in the example above implements the three
25219 requirements for all frame filters. It implements the API, self
25220 registers, and makes a decision on the iterator (in this case, it just
25221 returns the iterator untouched).
25223 The first step is attribute creation and assignment, and as shown in
25224 the comments the filter assigns the following attributes: @code{name},
25225 @code{priority} and whether the filter should be enabled with the
25226 @code{enabled} attribute.
25228 The second step is registering the frame filter with the dictionary or
25229 dictionaries that the frame filter has interest in. As shown in the
25230 comments, this filter just registers itself with the global dictionary
25231 @code{gdb.frame_filters}. As noted earlier, @code{gdb.frame_filters}
25232 is a dictionary that is initialized in the @code{gdb} module when
25233 @value{GDBN} starts. What dictionary a filter registers with is an
25234 important consideration. Generally, if a filter is specific to a set
25235 of code, it should be registered either in the @code{objfile} or
25236 @code{progspace} dictionaries as they are specific to the program
25237 currently loaded in @value{GDBN}. The global dictionary is always
25238 present in @value{GDBN} and is never unloaded. Any filters registered
25239 with the global dictionary will exist until @value{GDBN} exits. To
25240 avoid filters that may conflict, it is generally better to register
25241 frame filters against the dictionaries that more closely align with
25242 the usage of the filter currently in question. @xref{Python
25243 Auto-loading}, for further information on auto-loading Python scripts.
25245 @value{GDBN} takes a hands-off approach to frame filter registration,
25246 therefore it is the frame filter's responsibility to ensure
25247 registration has occurred, and that any exceptions are handled
25248 appropriately. In particular, you may wish to handle exceptions
25249 relating to Python dictionary key uniqueness. It is mandatory that
25250 the dictionary key is the same as frame filter's @code{name}
25251 attribute. When a user manages frame filters (@pxref{Frame Filter
25252 Management}), the names @value{GDBN} will display are those contained
25253 in the @code{name} attribute.
25255 The final step of this example is the implementation of the
25256 @code{filter} method. As shown in the example comments, we define the
25257 @code{filter} method and note that the method must take an iterator,
25258 and also must return an iterator. In this bare-bones example, the
25259 frame filter is not very useful as it just returns the iterator
25260 untouched. However this is a valid operation for frame filters that
25261 have the @code{enabled} attribute set, but decide not to operate on
25264 In the next example, the frame filter operates on all frames and
25265 utilizes a frame decorator to perform some work on the frames.
25266 @xref{Frame Decorator API}, for further information on the frame
25267 decorator interface.
25269 This example works on inlined frames. It highlights frames which are
25270 inlined by tagging them with an ``[inlined]'' tag. By applying a
25271 frame decorator to all frames with the Python @code{itertools imap}
25272 method, the example defers actions to the frame decorator. Frame
25273 decorators are only processed when @value{GDBN} prints the backtrace.
25275 This introduces a new decision making topic: whether to perform
25276 decision making operations at the filtering step, or at the printing
25277 step. In this example's approach, it does not perform any filtering
25278 decisions at the filtering step beyond mapping a frame decorator to
25279 each frame. This allows the actual decision making to be performed
25280 when each frame is printed. This is an important consideration, and
25281 well worth reflecting upon when designing a frame filter. An issue
25282 that frame filters should avoid is unwinding the stack if possible.
25283 Some stacks can run very deep, into the tens of thousands in some
25284 cases. To search every frame to determine if it is inlined ahead of
25285 time may be too expensive at the filtering step. The frame filter
25286 cannot know how many frames it has to iterate over, and it would have
25287 to iterate through them all. This ends up duplicating effort as
25288 @value{GDBN} performs this iteration when it prints the frames.
25290 In this example decision making can be deferred to the printing step.
25291 As each frame is printed, the frame decorator can examine each frame
25292 in turn when @value{GDBN} iterates. From a performance viewpoint,
25293 this is the most appropriate decision to make as it avoids duplicating
25294 the effort that the printing step would undertake anyway. Also, if
25295 there are many frame filters unwinding the stack during filtering, it
25296 can substantially delay the printing of the backtrace which will
25297 result in large memory usage, and a poor user experience.
25300 class InlineFilter():
25302 def __init__(self):
25303 self.name = "InlinedFrameFilter"
25304 self.priority = 100
25305 self.enabled = True
25306 gdb.frame_filters[self.name] = self
25308 def filter(self, frame_iter):
25309 frame_iter = itertools.imap(InlinedFrameDecorator,
25314 This frame filter is somewhat similar to the earlier example, except
25315 that the @code{filter} method applies a frame decorator object called
25316 @code{InlinedFrameDecorator} to each element in the iterator. The
25317 @code{imap} Python method is light-weight. It does not proactively
25318 iterate over the iterator, but rather creates a new iterator which
25319 wraps the existing one.
25321 Below is the frame decorator for this example.
25324 class InlinedFrameDecorator(FrameDecorator):
25326 def __init__(self, fobj):
25327 super(InlinedFrameDecorator, self).__init__(fobj)
25329 def function(self):
25330 frame = fobj.inferior_frame()
25331 name = str(frame.name())
25333 if frame.type() == gdb.INLINE_FRAME:
25334 name = name + " [inlined]"
25339 This frame decorator only defines and overrides the @code{function}
25340 method. It lets the supplied @code{FrameDecorator}, which is shipped
25341 with @value{GDBN}, perform the other work associated with printing
25344 The combination of these two objects create this output from a
25348 #0 0x004004e0 in bar () at inline.c:11
25349 #1 0x00400566 in max [inlined] (b=6, a=12) at inline.c:21
25350 #2 0x00400566 in main () at inline.c:31
25353 So in the case of this example, a frame decorator is applied to all
25354 frames, regardless of whether they may be inlined or not. As
25355 @value{GDBN} iterates over the iterator produced by the frame filters,
25356 @value{GDBN} executes each frame decorator which then makes a decision
25357 on what to print in the @code{function} callback. Using a strategy
25358 like this is a way to defer decisions on the frame content to printing
25361 @subheading Eliding Frames
25363 It might be that the above example is not desirable for representing
25364 inlined frames, and a hierarchical approach may be preferred. If we
25365 want to hierarchically represent frames, the @code{elided} frame
25366 decorator interface might be preferable.
25368 This example approaches the issue with the @code{elided} method. This
25369 example is quite long, but very simplistic. It is out-of-scope for
25370 this section to write a complete example that comprehensively covers
25371 all approaches of finding and printing inlined frames. However, this
25372 example illustrates the approach an author might use.
25374 This example comprises of three sections.
25377 class InlineFrameFilter():
25379 def __init__(self):
25380 self.name = "InlinedFrameFilter"
25381 self.priority = 100
25382 self.enabled = True
25383 gdb.frame_filters[self.name] = self
25385 def filter(self, frame_iter):
25386 return ElidingInlineIterator(frame_iter)
25389 This frame filter is very similar to the other examples. The only
25390 difference is this frame filter is wrapping the iterator provided to
25391 it (@code{frame_iter}) with a custom iterator called
25392 @code{ElidingInlineIterator}. This again defers actions to when
25393 @value{GDBN} prints the backtrace, as the iterator is not traversed
25396 The iterator for this example is as follows. It is in this section of
25397 the example where decisions are made on the content of the backtrace.
25400 class ElidingInlineIterator:
25401 def __init__(self, ii):
25402 self.input_iterator = ii
25404 def __iter__(self):
25408 frame = next(self.input_iterator)
25410 if frame.inferior_frame().type() != gdb.INLINE_FRAME:
25414 eliding_frame = next(self.input_iterator)
25415 except StopIteration:
25417 return ElidingFrameDecorator(eliding_frame, [frame])
25420 This iterator implements the Python iterator protocol. When the
25421 @code{next} function is called (when @value{GDBN} prints each frame),
25422 the iterator checks if this frame decorator, @code{frame}, is wrapping
25423 an inlined frame. If it is not, it returns the existing frame decorator
25424 untouched. If it is wrapping an inlined frame, it assumes that the
25425 inlined frame was contained within the next oldest frame,
25426 @code{eliding_frame}, which it fetches. It then creates and returns a
25427 frame decorator, @code{ElidingFrameDecorator}, which contains both the
25428 elided frame, and the eliding frame.
25431 class ElidingInlineDecorator(FrameDecorator):
25433 def __init__(self, frame, elided_frames):
25434 super(ElidingInlineDecorator, self).__init__(frame)
25436 self.elided_frames = elided_frames
25439 return iter(self.elided_frames)
25442 This frame decorator overrides one function and returns the inlined
25443 frame in the @code{elided} method. As before it lets
25444 @code{FrameDecorator} do the rest of the work involved in printing
25445 this frame. This produces the following output.
25448 #0 0x004004e0 in bar () at inline.c:11
25449 #2 0x00400529 in main () at inline.c:25
25450 #1 0x00400529 in max (b=6, a=12) at inline.c:15
25453 In that output, @code{max} which has been inlined into @code{main} is
25454 printed hierarchically. Another approach would be to combine the
25455 @code{function} method, and the @code{elided} method to both print a
25456 marker in the inlined frame, and also show the hierarchical
25459 @node Inferiors In Python
25460 @subsubsection Inferiors In Python
25461 @cindex inferiors in Python
25463 @findex gdb.Inferior
25464 Programs which are being run under @value{GDBN} are called inferiors
25465 (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). Python scripts can access
25466 information about and manipulate inferiors controlled by @value{GDBN}
25467 via objects of the @code{gdb.Inferior} class.
25469 The following inferior-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
25472 @defun gdb.inferiors ()
25473 Return a tuple containing all inferior objects.
25476 @defun gdb.selected_inferior ()
25477 Return an object representing the current inferior.
25480 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following attributes:
25482 @defvar Inferior.num
25483 ID of inferior, as assigned by GDB.
25486 @defvar Inferior.pid
25487 Process ID of the inferior, as assigned by the underlying operating
25491 @defvar Inferior.was_attached
25492 Boolean signaling whether the inferior was created using `attach', or
25493 started by @value{GDBN} itself.
25496 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following methods:
25498 @defun Inferior.is_valid ()
25499 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Inferior} object is valid,
25500 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Inferior} object will become invalid
25501 if the inferior no longer exists within @value{GDBN}. All other
25502 @code{gdb.Inferior} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid
25503 at the time the method is called.
25506 @defun Inferior.threads ()
25507 This method returns a tuple holding all the threads which are valid
25508 when it is called. If there are no valid threads, the method will
25509 return an empty tuple.
25512 @findex Inferior.read_memory
25513 @defun Inferior.read_memory (address, length)
25514 Read @var{length} bytes of memory from the inferior, starting at
25515 @var{address}. Returns a buffer object, which behaves much like an array
25516 or a string. It can be modified and given to the
25517 @code{Inferior.write_memory} function. In @code{Python} 3, the return
25518 value is a @code{memoryview} object.
25521 @findex Inferior.write_memory
25522 @defun Inferior.write_memory (address, buffer @r{[}, length@r{]})
25523 Write the contents of @var{buffer} to the inferior, starting at
25524 @var{address}. The @var{buffer} parameter must be a Python object
25525 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
25526 object returned from @code{Inferior.read_memory}. If given, @var{length}
25527 determines the number of bytes from @var{buffer} to be written.
25530 @findex gdb.search_memory
25531 @defun Inferior.search_memory (address, length, pattern)
25532 Search a region of the inferior memory starting at @var{address} with
25533 the given @var{length} using the search pattern supplied in
25534 @var{pattern}. The @var{pattern} parameter must be a Python object
25535 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
25536 object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. Returns a Python @code{Long}
25537 containing the address where the pattern was found, or @code{None} if
25538 the pattern could not be found.
25541 @node Events In Python
25542 @subsubsection Events In Python
25543 @cindex inferior events in Python
25545 @value{GDBN} provides a general event facility so that Python code can be
25546 notified of various state changes, particularly changes that occur in
25549 An @dfn{event} is just an object that describes some state change. The
25550 type of the object and its attributes will vary depending on the details
25551 of the change. All the existing events are described below.
25553 In order to be notified of an event, you must register an event handler
25554 with an @dfn{event registry}. An event registry is an object in the
25555 @code{gdb.events} module which dispatches particular events. A registry
25556 provides methods to register and unregister event handlers:
25558 @defun EventRegistry.connect (object)
25559 Add the given callable @var{object} to the registry. This object will be
25560 called when an event corresponding to this registry occurs.
25563 @defun EventRegistry.disconnect (object)
25564 Remove the given @var{object} from the registry. Once removed, the object
25565 will no longer receive notifications of events.
25568 Here is an example:
25571 def exit_handler (event):
25572 print "event type: exit"
25573 print "exit code: %d" % (event.exit_code)
25575 gdb.events.exited.connect (exit_handler)
25578 In the above example we connect our handler @code{exit_handler} to the
25579 registry @code{events.exited}. Once connected, @code{exit_handler} gets
25580 called when the inferior exits. The argument @dfn{event} in this example is
25581 of type @code{gdb.ExitedEvent}. As you can see in the example the
25582 @code{ExitedEvent} object has an attribute which indicates the exit code of
25585 The following is a listing of the event registries that are available and
25586 details of the events they emit:
25591 Emits @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
25593 Some events can be thread specific when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
25594 mode. When represented in Python, these events all extend
25595 @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}. Note, this event is not emitted directly; instead,
25596 events which are emitted by this or other modules might extend this event.
25597 Examples of these events are @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} and
25598 @code{gdb.ContinueEvent}.
25600 @defvar ThreadEvent.inferior_thread
25601 In non-stop mode this attribute will be set to the specific thread which was
25602 involved in the emitted event. Otherwise, it will be set to @code{None}.
25605 Emits @code{gdb.ContinueEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
25607 This event indicates that the inferior has been continued after a stop. For
25608 inherited attribute refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above.
25610 @item events.exited
25611 Emits @code{events.ExitedEvent} which indicates that the inferior has exited.
25612 @code{events.ExitedEvent} has two attributes:
25613 @defvar ExitedEvent.exit_code
25614 An integer representing the exit code, if available, which the inferior
25615 has returned. (The exit code could be unavailable if, for example,
25616 @value{GDBN} detaches from the inferior.) If the exit code is unavailable,
25617 the attribute does not exist.
25619 @defvar ExitedEvent inferior
25620 A reference to the inferior which triggered the @code{exited} event.
25624 Emits @code{gdb.StopEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
25626 Indicates that the inferior has stopped. All events emitted by this registry
25627 extend StopEvent. As a child of @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}, @code{gdb.StopEvent}
25628 will indicate the stopped thread when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
25629 mode. Refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above for more details.
25631 Emits @code{gdb.SignalEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
25633 This event indicates that the inferior or one of its threads has received as
25634 signal. @code{gdb.SignalEvent} has the following attributes:
25636 @defvar SignalEvent.stop_signal
25637 A string representing the signal received by the inferior. A list of possible
25638 signal values can be obtained by running the command @code{info signals} in
25639 the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
25642 Also emits @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
25644 @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} event indicates that one or more breakpoints have
25645 been hit, and has the following attributes:
25647 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoints
25648 A sequence containing references to all the breakpoints (type
25649 @code{gdb.Breakpoint}) that were hit.
25650 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Breakpoint} object.
25652 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoint
25653 A reference to the first breakpoint that was hit.
25654 This function is maintained for backward compatibility and is now deprecated
25655 in favor of the @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent.breakpoints} attribute.
25658 @item events.new_objfile
25659 Emits @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} which indicates that a new object file has
25660 been loaded by @value{GDBN}. @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} has one attribute:
25662 @defvar NewObjFileEvent.new_objfile
25663 A reference to the object file (@code{gdb.Objfile}) which has been loaded.
25664 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Objfile} object.
25669 @node Threads In Python
25670 @subsubsection Threads In Python
25671 @cindex threads in python
25673 @findex gdb.InferiorThread
25674 Python scripts can access information about, and manipulate inferior threads
25675 controlled by @value{GDBN}, via objects of the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} class.
25677 The following thread-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
25680 @findex gdb.selected_thread
25681 @defun gdb.selected_thread ()
25682 This function returns the thread object for the selected thread. If there
25683 is no selected thread, this will return @code{None}.
25686 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following attributes:
25688 @defvar InferiorThread.name
25689 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using
25690 @code{thread name}, then this returns that name. Otherwise, if an
25691 OS-supplied name is available, then it is returned. Otherwise, this
25692 returns @code{None}.
25694 This attribute can be assigned to. The new value must be a string
25695 object, which sets the new name, or @code{None}, which removes any
25696 user-specified thread name.
25699 @defvar InferiorThread.num
25700 ID of the thread, as assigned by GDB.
25703 @defvar InferiorThread.ptid
25704 ID of the thread, as assigned by the operating system. This attribute is a
25705 tuple containing three integers. The first is the Process ID (PID); the second
25706 is the Lightweight Process ID (LWPID), and the third is the Thread ID (TID).
25707 Either the LWPID or TID may be 0, which indicates that the operating system
25708 does not use that identifier.
25711 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following methods:
25713 @defun InferiorThread.is_valid ()
25714 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object is valid,
25715 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object will become
25716 invalid if the thread exits, or the inferior that the thread belongs
25717 is deleted. All other @code{gdb.InferiorThread} methods will throw an
25718 exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
25721 @defun InferiorThread.switch ()
25722 This changes @value{GDBN}'s currently selected thread to the one represented
25726 @defun InferiorThread.is_stopped ()
25727 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is stopped.
25730 @defun InferiorThread.is_running ()
25731 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is running.
25734 @defun InferiorThread.is_exited ()
25735 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is exited.
25738 @node Commands In Python
25739 @subsubsection Commands In Python
25741 @cindex commands in python
25742 @cindex python commands
25743 You can implement new @value{GDBN} CLI commands in Python. A CLI
25744 command is implemented using an instance of the @code{gdb.Command}
25745 class, most commonly using a subclass.
25747 @defun Command.__init__ (name, @var{command_class} @r{[}, @var{completer_class} @r{[}, @var{prefix}@r{]]})
25748 The object initializer for @code{Command} registers the new command
25749 with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked from the
25750 subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
25752 @var{name} is the name of the command. If @var{name} consists of
25753 multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
25754 commands. In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist,
25755 an exception is raised.
25757 There is no support for multi-line commands.
25759 @var{command_class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
25760 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to categorize the
25761 new command in the help system.
25763 @var{completer_class} is an optional argument. If given, it should be
25764 one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined below. This argument
25765 tells @value{GDBN} how to perform completion for this command. If not
25766 given, @value{GDBN} will attempt to complete using the object's
25767 @code{complete} method (see below); if no such method is found, an
25768 error will occur when completion is attempted.
25770 @var{prefix} is an optional argument. If @code{True}, then the new
25771 command is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
25774 The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
25775 documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If no
25776 documentation string is provided, the default value ``This command is
25777 not documented.'' is used.
25780 @cindex don't repeat Python command
25781 @defun Command.dont_repeat ()
25782 By default, a @value{GDBN} command is repeated when the user enters a
25783 blank line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this
25784 behavior by invoking the @code{dont_repeat} method. This is similar
25785 to the user command @code{dont-repeat}, see @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
25788 @defun Command.invoke (argument, from_tty)
25789 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when this command is invoked.
25791 @var{argument} is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
25792 leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
25794 @var{from_tty} is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
25795 command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it means
25796 that the command came from elsewhere.
25798 If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a @value{GDBN}
25799 @code{error} call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
25801 @findex gdb.string_to_argv
25802 To break @var{argument} up into an argv-like string use
25803 @code{gdb.string_to_argv}. This function behaves identically to
25804 @value{GDBN}'s internal argument lexer @code{buildargv}.
25805 It is recommended to use this for consistency.
25806 Arguments are separated by spaces and may be quoted.
25810 print gdb.string_to_argv ("1 2\ \\\"3 '4 \"5' \"6 '7\"")
25811 ['1', '2 "3', '4 "5', "6 '7"]
25816 @cindex completion of Python commands
25817 @defun Command.complete (text, word)
25818 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when the user attempts
25819 completion on this command. All forms of completion are handled by
25820 this method, that is, the @key{TAB} and @key{M-?} key bindings
25821 (@pxref{Completion}), and the @code{complete} command (@pxref{Help,
25824 The arguments @var{text} and @var{word} are both strings. @var{text}
25825 holds the complete command line up to the cursor's location.
25826 @var{word} holds the last word of the command line; this is computed
25827 using a word-breaking heuristic.
25829 The @code{complete} method can return several values:
25832 If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the sequence are
25833 used as the completions. It is up to @code{complete} to ensure that the
25834 contents actually do complete the word. A zero-length sequence is
25835 allowed, it means that there were no completions available. Only
25836 string elements of the sequence are used; other elements in the
25837 sequence are ignored.
25840 If the return value is one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined
25841 below, then the corresponding @value{GDBN}-internal completion
25842 function is invoked, and its result is used.
25845 All other results are treated as though there were no available
25850 When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
25851 some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
25852 commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
25853 listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
25854 command. The available classifications are represented by constants
25855 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
25858 @findex COMMAND_NONE
25859 @findex gdb.COMMAND_NONE
25860 @item gdb.COMMAND_NONE
25861 The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
25862 this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
25864 @findex COMMAND_RUNNING
25865 @findex gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
25866 @item gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
25867 The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
25868 @code{start}, @code{step}, and @code{continue} are in this category.
25869 Type @kbd{help running} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
25870 commands in this category.
25872 @findex COMMAND_DATA
25873 @findex gdb.COMMAND_DATA
25874 @item gdb.COMMAND_DATA
25875 The command is related to data or variables. For example,
25876 @code{call}, @code{find}, and @code{print} are in this category. Type
25877 @kbd{help data} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands
25880 @findex COMMAND_STACK
25881 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STACK
25882 @item gdb.COMMAND_STACK
25883 The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
25884 @code{backtrace}, @code{frame}, and @code{return} are in this
25885 category. Type @kbd{help stack} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a
25886 list of commands in this category.
25888 @findex COMMAND_FILES
25889 @findex gdb.COMMAND_FILES
25890 @item gdb.COMMAND_FILES
25891 This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
25892 @code{file}, @code{list} and @code{section} are in this category.
25893 Type @kbd{help files} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
25894 commands in this category.
25896 @findex COMMAND_SUPPORT
25897 @findex gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
25898 @item gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
25899 This should be used for ``support facilities'', generally meaning
25900 things that are useful to the user when interacting with @value{GDBN},
25901 but not related to the state of the inferior. For example,
25902 @code{help}, @code{make}, and @code{shell} are in this category. Type
25903 @kbd{help support} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
25904 commands in this category.
25906 @findex COMMAND_STATUS
25907 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
25908 @item gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
25909 The command is an @samp{info}-related command, that is, related to the
25910 state of @value{GDBN} itself. For example, @code{info}, @code{macro},
25911 and @code{show} are in this category. Type @kbd{help status} at the
25912 @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
25914 @findex COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
25915 @findex gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
25916 @item gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
25917 The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, @code{break},
25918 @code{clear}, and @code{delete} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
25919 breakpoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in
25922 @findex COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
25923 @findex gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
25924 @item gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
25925 The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, @code{trace},
25926 @code{actions}, and @code{tfind} are in this category. Type
25927 @kbd{help tracepoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
25928 commands in this category.
25930 @findex COMMAND_USER
25931 @findex gdb.COMMAND_USER
25932 @item gdb.COMMAND_USER
25933 The command is a general purpose command for the user, and typically
25934 does not fit in one of the other categories.
25935 Type @kbd{help user-defined} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see
25936 a list of commands in this category, as well as the list of gdb macros
25937 (@pxref{Sequences}).
25939 @findex COMMAND_OBSCURE
25940 @findex gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
25941 @item gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
25942 The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
25943 general interest to users. For example, @code{checkpoint},
25944 @code{fork}, and @code{stop} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
25945 obscure} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this
25948 @findex COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
25949 @findex gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
25950 @item gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
25951 The command is only useful to @value{GDBN} maintainers. The
25952 @code{maintenance} and @code{flushregs} commands are in this category.
25953 Type @kbd{help internals} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
25954 commands in this category.
25957 A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
25958 specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
25959 from the @code{complete} method. These predefined completion
25960 constants are all defined in the @code{gdb} module:
25963 @findex COMPLETE_NONE
25964 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
25965 @item gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
25966 This constant means that no completion should be done.
25968 @findex COMPLETE_FILENAME
25969 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
25970 @item gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
25971 This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
25973 @findex COMPLETE_LOCATION
25974 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
25975 @item gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
25976 This constant means that location completion should be done.
25977 @xref{Specify Location}.
25979 @findex COMPLETE_COMMAND
25980 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
25981 @item gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
25982 This constant means that completion should examine @value{GDBN}
25985 @findex COMPLETE_SYMBOL
25986 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
25987 @item gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
25988 This constant means that completion should be done using symbol names
25992 The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
25993 implemented in Python:
25996 class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
25997 """Greet the whole world."""
25999 def __init__ (self):
26000 super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_USER)
26002 def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
26003 print "Hello, World!"
26008 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
26009 registration of the command with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
26010 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
26011 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
26013 @node Parameters In Python
26014 @subsubsection Parameters In Python
26016 @cindex parameters in python
26017 @cindex python parameters
26018 @tindex gdb.Parameter
26020 You can implement new @value{GDBN} parameters using Python. A new
26021 parameter is implemented as an instance of the @code{gdb.Parameter}
26024 Parameters are exposed to the user via the @code{set} and
26025 @code{show} commands. @xref{Help}.
26027 There are many parameters that already exist and can be set in
26028 @value{GDBN}. Two examples are: @code{set follow fork} and
26029 @code{set charset}. Setting these parameters influences certain
26030 behavior in @value{GDBN}. Similarly, you can define parameters that
26031 can be used to influence behavior in custom Python scripts and commands.
26033 @defun Parameter.__init__ (name, @var{command-class}, @var{parameter-class} @r{[}, @var{enum-sequence}@r{]})
26034 The object initializer for @code{Parameter} registers the new
26035 parameter with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked
26036 from the subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
26038 @var{name} is the name of the new parameter. If @var{name} consists
26039 of multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
26040 parameters. An example of this can be illustrated with the
26041 @code{set print} set of parameters. If @var{name} is
26042 @code{print foo}, then @code{print} will be searched as the prefix
26043 parameter. In this case the parameter can subsequently be accessed in
26044 @value{GDBN} as @code{set print foo}.
26046 If @var{name} consists of multiple words, and no prefix parameter group
26047 can be found, an exception is raised.
26049 @var{command-class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
26050 (@pxref{Commands In Python}). This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to
26051 categorize the new parameter in the help system.
26053 @var{parameter-class} should be one of the @samp{PARAM_} constants
26054 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} the type of the new
26055 parameter; this information is used for input validation and
26058 If @var{parameter-class} is @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then
26059 @var{enum-sequence} must be a sequence of strings. These strings
26060 represent the possible values for the parameter.
26062 If @var{parameter-class} is not @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then the presence
26063 of a fourth argument will cause an exception to be thrown.
26065 The help text for the new parameter is taken from the Python
26066 documentation string for the parameter's class, if there is one. If
26067 there is no documentation string, a default value is used.
26070 @defvar Parameter.set_doc
26071 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
26072 the help text for this parameter's @code{set} command. The value is
26073 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
26077 @defvar Parameter.show_doc
26078 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
26079 the help text for this parameter's @code{show} command. The value is
26080 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
26084 @defvar Parameter.value
26085 The @code{value} attribute holds the underlying value of the
26086 parameter. It can be read and assigned to just as any other
26087 attribute. @value{GDBN} does validation when assignments are made.
26090 There are two methods that should be implemented in any
26091 @code{Parameter} class. These are:
26093 @defun Parameter.get_set_string (self)
26094 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s value has
26095 been changed via the @code{set} API (for example, @kbd{set foo off}).
26096 The @code{value} attribute has already been populated with the new
26097 value and may be used in output. This method must return a string.
26100 @defun Parameter.get_show_string (self, svalue)
26101 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s
26102 @code{show} API has been invoked (for example, @kbd{show foo}). The
26103 argument @code{svalue} receives the string representation of the
26104 current value. This method must return a string.
26107 When a new parameter is defined, its type must be specified. The
26108 available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
26112 @findex PARAM_BOOLEAN
26113 @findex gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
26114 @item gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
26115 The value is a plain boolean. The Python boolean values, @code{True}
26116 and @code{False} are the only valid values.
26118 @findex PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
26119 @findex gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
26120 @item gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
26121 The value has three possible states: true, false, and @samp{auto}. In
26122 Python, true and false are represented using boolean constants, and
26123 @samp{auto} is represented using @code{None}.
26125 @findex PARAM_UINTEGER
26126 @findex gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
26127 @item gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
26128 The value is an unsigned integer. The value of 0 should be
26129 interpreted to mean ``unlimited''.
26131 @findex PARAM_INTEGER
26132 @findex gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
26133 @item gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
26134 The value is a signed integer. The value of 0 should be interpreted
26135 to mean ``unlimited''.
26137 @findex PARAM_STRING
26138 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING
26139 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING
26140 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, any escape
26141 sequences, such as @samp{\t}, @samp{\f}, and octal escapes, are
26142 translated into corresponding characters and encoded into the current
26145 @findex PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
26146 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
26147 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
26148 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, escapes are
26149 passed through untranslated.
26151 @findex PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
26152 @findex gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
26153 @item gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
26154 The value is a either a filename (a string), or @code{None}.
26156 @findex PARAM_FILENAME
26157 @findex gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
26158 @item gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
26159 The value is a filename. This is just like
26160 @code{PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE}, but uses file names for completion.
26162 @findex PARAM_ZINTEGER
26163 @findex gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
26164 @item gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
26165 The value is an integer. This is like @code{PARAM_INTEGER}, except 0
26166 is interpreted as itself.
26169 @findex gdb.PARAM_ENUM
26170 @item gdb.PARAM_ENUM
26171 The value is a string, which must be one of a collection string
26172 constants provided when the parameter is created.
26175 @node Functions In Python
26176 @subsubsection Writing new convenience functions
26178 @cindex writing convenience functions
26179 @cindex convenience functions in python
26180 @cindex python convenience functions
26181 @tindex gdb.Function
26183 You can implement new convenience functions (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
26184 in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
26185 class @code{gdb.Function}.
26187 @defun Function.__init__ (name)
26188 The initializer for @code{Function} registers the new function with
26189 @value{GDBN}. The argument @var{name} is the name of the function,
26190 a string. The function will be visible to the user as a convenience
26191 variable of type @code{internal function}, whose name is the same as
26192 the given @var{name}.
26194 The documentation for the new function is taken from the documentation
26195 string for the new class.
26198 @defun Function.invoke (@var{*args})
26199 When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are converted
26200 to instances of @code{gdb.Value}, and then the function's
26201 @code{invoke} method is called. Note that @value{GDBN} does not
26202 predetermine the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all
26203 available arguments are passed to @code{invoke}, following the
26204 standard Python calling convention. In particular, a convenience
26205 function can have default values for parameters without ill effect.
26207 The return value of this method is used as its value in the enclosing
26208 expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it is converted
26209 to a @code{gdb.Value} following the usual rules.
26212 The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function can
26213 be implemented in Python:
26216 class Greet (gdb.Function):
26217 """Return string to greet someone.
26218 Takes a name as argument."""
26220 def __init__ (self):
26221 super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
26223 def invoke (self, name):
26224 return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
26229 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
26230 registration of the function with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
26231 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
26232 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
26234 Now you can use the function in an expression:
26237 (gdb) print $greet("Bob")
26241 @node Progspaces In Python
26242 @subsubsection Program Spaces In Python
26244 @cindex progspaces in python
26245 @tindex gdb.Progspace
26247 A program space, or @dfn{progspace}, represents a symbolic view
26248 of an address space.
26249 It consists of all of the objfiles of the program.
26250 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
26251 @xref{Inferiors and Programs, program spaces}, for more details
26252 about program spaces.
26254 The following progspace-related functions are available in the
26257 @findex gdb.current_progspace
26258 @defun gdb.current_progspace ()
26259 This function returns the program space of the currently selected inferior.
26260 @xref{Inferiors and Programs}.
26263 @findex gdb.progspaces
26264 @defun gdb.progspaces ()
26265 Return a sequence of all the progspaces currently known to @value{GDBN}.
26268 Each progspace is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Progspace}
26271 @defvar Progspace.filename
26272 The file name of the progspace as a string.
26275 @defvar Progspace.pretty_printers
26276 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
26277 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
26278 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
26279 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
26280 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
26284 @defvar Progspace.type_printers
26285 The @code{type_printers} attribute is a list of type printer objects.
26286 @xref{Type Printing API}, for more information.
26289 @defvar Progspace.frame_filters
26290 The @code{frame_filters} attribute is a dictionary of frame filter
26291 objects. @xref{Frame Filter API}, for more information.
26294 @node Objfiles In Python
26295 @subsubsection Objfiles In Python
26297 @cindex objfiles in python
26298 @tindex gdb.Objfile
26300 @value{GDBN} loads symbols for an inferior from various
26301 symbol-containing files (@pxref{Files}). These include the primary
26302 executable file, any shared libraries used by the inferior, and any
26303 separate debug info files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}).
26304 @value{GDBN} calls these symbol-containing files @dfn{objfiles}.
26306 The following objfile-related functions are available in the
26309 @findex gdb.current_objfile
26310 @defun gdb.current_objfile ()
26311 When auto-loading a Python script (@pxref{Python Auto-loading}), @value{GDBN}
26312 sets the ``current objfile'' to the corresponding objfile. This
26313 function returns the current objfile. If there is no current objfile,
26314 this function returns @code{None}.
26317 @findex gdb.objfiles
26318 @defun gdb.objfiles ()
26319 Return a sequence of all the objfiles current known to @value{GDBN}.
26320 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
26323 Each objfile is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Objfile}
26326 @defvar Objfile.filename
26327 The file name of the objfile as a string.
26330 @defvar Objfile.pretty_printers
26331 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
26332 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
26333 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
26334 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
26335 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
26339 @defvar Objfile.type_printers
26340 The @code{type_printers} attribute is a list of type printer objects.
26341 @xref{Type Printing API}, for more information.
26344 @defvar Objfile.frame_filters
26345 The @code{frame_filters} attribute is a dictionary of frame filter
26346 objects. @xref{Frame Filter API}, for more information.
26349 A @code{gdb.Objfile} object has the following methods:
26351 @defun Objfile.is_valid ()
26352 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Objfile} object is valid,
26353 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Objfile} object can become invalid
26354 if the object file it refers to is not loaded in @value{GDBN} any
26355 longer. All other @code{gdb.Objfile} methods will throw an exception
26356 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
26359 @node Frames In Python
26360 @subsubsection Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
26362 @cindex frames in python
26363 When the debugged program stops, @value{GDBN} is able to analyze its call
26364 stack (@pxref{Frames,,Stack frames}). The @code{gdb.Frame} class
26365 represents a frame in the stack. A @code{gdb.Frame} object is only valid
26366 while its corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try
26367 to use an invalid frame object, @value{GDBN} will throw a @code{gdb.error}
26368 exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
26370 Two @code{gdb.Frame} objects can be compared for equality with the @code{==}
26374 (@value{GDBP}) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
26378 The following frame-related functions are available in the @code{gdb} module:
26380 @findex gdb.selected_frame
26381 @defun gdb.selected_frame ()
26382 Return the selected frame object. (@pxref{Selection,,Selecting a Frame}).
26385 @findex gdb.newest_frame
26386 @defun gdb.newest_frame ()
26387 Return the newest frame object for the selected thread.
26390 @defun gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
26391 Return a string explaining the reason why @value{GDBN} stopped unwinding
26392 frames, as expressed by the given @var{reason} code (an integer, see the
26393 @code{unwind_stop_reason} method further down in this section).
26396 A @code{gdb.Frame} object has the following methods:
26398 @defun Frame.is_valid ()
26399 Returns true if the @code{gdb.Frame} object is valid, false if not.
26400 A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to doesn't
26401 exist anymore in the inferior. All @code{gdb.Frame} methods will throw
26402 an exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
26405 @defun Frame.name ()
26406 Returns the function name of the frame, or @code{None} if it can't be
26410 @defun Frame.architecture ()
26411 Returns the @code{gdb.Architecture} object corresponding to the frame's
26412 architecture. @xref{Architectures In Python}.
26415 @defun Frame.type ()
26416 Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of:
26418 @item gdb.NORMAL_FRAME
26419 An ordinary stack frame.
26421 @item gdb.DUMMY_FRAME
26422 A fake stack frame that was created by @value{GDBN} when performing an
26423 inferior function call.
26425 @item gdb.INLINE_FRAME
26426 A frame representing an inlined function. The function was inlined
26427 into a @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME} that is older than this one.
26429 @item gdb.TAILCALL_FRAME
26430 A frame representing a tail call. @xref{Tail Call Frames}.
26432 @item gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME
26433 A signal trampoline frame. This is the frame created by the OS when
26434 it calls into a signal handler.
26436 @item gdb.ARCH_FRAME
26437 A fake stack frame representing a cross-architecture call.
26439 @item gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME
26440 This is like @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME}, but it is only used for the
26445 @defun Frame.unwind_stop_reason ()
26446 Return an integer representing the reason why it's not possible to find
26447 more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
26448 @code{gdb.frame_stop_reason_string} to convert the value returned by this
26449 function to a string. The value can be one of:
26452 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_REASON
26453 No particular reason (older frames should be available).
26455 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NULL_ID
26456 The previous frame's analyzer returns an invalid result.
26458 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_OUTERMOST
26459 This frame is the outermost.
26461 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_UNAVAILABLE
26462 Cannot unwind further, because that would require knowing the
26463 values of registers or memory that have not been collected.
26465 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_INNER_ID
26466 This frame ID looks like it ought to belong to a NEXT frame,
26467 but we got it for a PREV frame. Normally, this is a sign of
26468 unwinder failure. It could also indicate stack corruption.
26470 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_SAME_ID
26471 This frame has the same ID as the previous one. That means
26472 that unwinding further would almost certainly give us another
26473 frame with exactly the same ID, so break the chain. Normally,
26474 this is a sign of unwinder failure. It could also indicate
26477 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_SAVED_PC
26478 The frame unwinder did not find any saved PC, but we needed
26479 one to unwind further.
26481 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR
26482 Any stop reason greater or equal to this value indicates some kind
26483 of error. This special value facilitates writing code that tests
26484 for errors in unwinding in a way that will work correctly even if
26485 the list of the other values is modified in future @value{GDBN}
26486 versions. Using it, you could write:
26488 reason = gdb.selected_frame().unwind_stop_reason ()
26489 reason_str = gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
26490 if reason >= gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR:
26491 print "An error occured: %s" % reason_str
26498 Returns the frame's resume address.
26501 @defun Frame.block ()
26502 Return the frame's code block. @xref{Blocks In Python}.
26505 @defun Frame.function ()
26506 Return the symbol for the function corresponding to this frame.
26507 @xref{Symbols In Python}.
26510 @defun Frame.older ()
26511 Return the frame that called this frame.
26514 @defun Frame.newer ()
26515 Return the frame called by this frame.
26518 @defun Frame.find_sal ()
26519 Return the frame's symtab and line object.
26520 @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}.
26523 @defun Frame.read_var (variable @r{[}, block@r{]})
26524 Return the value of @var{variable} in this frame. If the optional
26525 argument @var{block} is provided, search for the variable from that
26526 block; otherwise start at the frame's current block (which is
26527 determined by the frame's current program counter). @var{variable}
26528 must be a string or a @code{gdb.Symbol} object. @var{block} must be a
26529 @code{gdb.Block} object.
26532 @defun Frame.select ()
26533 Set this frame to be the selected frame. @xref{Stack, ,Examining the
26537 @node Blocks In Python
26538 @subsubsection Accessing blocks from Python.
26540 @cindex blocks in python
26543 In @value{GDBN}, symbols are stored in blocks. A block corresponds
26544 roughly to a scope in the source code. Blocks are organized
26545 hierarchically, and are represented individually in Python as a
26546 @code{gdb.Block}. Blocks rely on debugging information being
26549 A frame has a block. Please see @ref{Frames In Python}, for a more
26550 in-depth discussion of frames.
26552 The outermost block is known as the @dfn{global block}. The global
26553 block typically holds public global variables and functions.
26555 The block nested just inside the global block is the @dfn{static
26556 block}. The static block typically holds file-scoped variables and
26559 @value{GDBN} provides a method to get a block's superblock, but there
26560 is currently no way to examine the sub-blocks of a block, or to
26561 iterate over all the blocks in a symbol table (@pxref{Symbol Tables In
26564 Here is a short example that should help explain blocks:
26567 /* This is in the global block. */
26570 /* This is in the static block. */
26571 static int file_scope;
26573 /* 'function' is in the global block, and 'argument' is
26574 in a block nested inside of 'function'. */
26575 int function (int argument)
26577 /* 'local' is in a block inside 'function'. It may or may
26578 not be in the same block as 'argument'. */
26582 /* 'inner' is in a block whose superblock is the one holding
26586 /* If this call is expanded by the compiler, you may see
26587 a nested block here whose function is 'inline_function'
26588 and whose superblock is the one holding 'inner'. */
26589 inline_function ();
26594 A @code{gdb.Block} is iterable. The iterator returns the symbols
26595 (@pxref{Symbols In Python}) local to the block. Python programs
26596 should not assume that a specific block object will always contain a
26597 given symbol, since changes in @value{GDBN} features and
26598 infrastructure may cause symbols move across blocks in a symbol
26601 The following block-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
26604 @findex gdb.block_for_pc
26605 @defun gdb.block_for_pc (pc)
26606 Return the innermost @code{gdb.Block} containing the given @var{pc}
26607 value. If the block cannot be found for the @var{pc} value specified,
26608 the function will return @code{None}.
26611 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following methods:
26613 @defun Block.is_valid ()
26614 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is valid,
26615 @code{False} if not. A block object can become invalid if the block it
26616 refers to doesn't exist anymore in the inferior. All other
26617 @code{gdb.Block} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid at
26618 the time the method is called. The block's validity is also checked
26619 during iteration over symbols of the block.
26622 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following attributes:
26624 @defvar Block.start
26625 The start address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
26629 The end address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
26632 @defvar Block.function
26633 The name of the block represented as a @code{gdb.Symbol}. If the
26634 block is not named, then this attribute holds @code{None}. This
26635 attribute is not writable.
26637 For ordinary function blocks, the superblock is the static block.
26638 However, you should note that it is possible for a function block to
26639 have a superblock that is not the static block -- for instance this
26640 happens for an inlined function.
26643 @defvar Block.superblock
26644 The block containing this block. If this parent block does not exist,
26645 this attribute holds @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
26648 @defvar Block.global_block
26649 The global block associated with this block. This attribute is not
26653 @defvar Block.static_block
26654 The static block associated with this block. This attribute is not
26658 @defvar Block.is_global
26659 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a global block,
26660 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not
26664 @defvar Block.is_static
26665 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a static block,
26666 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not writable.
26669 @node Symbols In Python
26670 @subsubsection Python representation of Symbols.
26672 @cindex symbols in python
26675 @value{GDBN} represents every variable, function and type as an
26676 entry in a symbol table. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
26677 Similarly, Python represents these symbols in @value{GDBN} with the
26678 @code{gdb.Symbol} object.
26680 The following symbol-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
26683 @findex gdb.lookup_symbol
26684 @defun gdb.lookup_symbol (name @r{[}, block @r{[}, domain@r{]]})
26685 This function searches for a symbol by name. The search scope can be
26686 restricted to the parameters defined in the optional domain and block
26689 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string. The
26690 optional @var{block} argument restricts the search to symbols visible
26691 in that @var{block}. The @var{block} argument must be a
26692 @code{gdb.Block} object. If omitted, the block for the current frame
26693 is used. The optional @var{domain} argument restricts
26694 the search to the domain type. The @var{domain} argument must be a
26695 domain constant defined in the @code{gdb} module and described later
26698 The result is a tuple of two elements.
26699 The first element is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
26701 If the symbol is found, the second element is @code{True} if the symbol
26702 is a field of a method's object (e.g., @code{this} in C@t{++}),
26703 otherwise it is @code{False}.
26704 If the symbol is not found, the second element is @code{False}.
26707 @findex gdb.lookup_global_symbol
26708 @defun gdb.lookup_global_symbol (name @r{[}, domain@r{]})
26709 This function searches for a global symbol by name.
26710 The search scope can be restricted to by the domain argument.
26712 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string.
26713 The optional @var{domain} argument restricts the search to the domain type.
26714 The @var{domain} argument must be a domain constant defined in the @code{gdb}
26715 module and described later in this chapter.
26717 The result is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
26721 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following attributes:
26723 @defvar Symbol.type
26724 The type of the symbol or @code{None} if no type is recorded.
26725 This attribute is represented as a @code{gdb.Type} object.
26726 @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not writable.
26729 @defvar Symbol.symtab
26730 The symbol table in which the symbol appears. This attribute is
26731 represented as a @code{gdb.Symtab} object. @xref{Symbol Tables In
26732 Python}. This attribute is not writable.
26735 @defvar Symbol.line
26736 The line number in the source code at which the symbol was defined.
26737 This is an integer.
26740 @defvar Symbol.name
26741 The name of the symbol as a string. This attribute is not writable.
26744 @defvar Symbol.linkage_name
26745 The name of the symbol, as used by the linker (i.e., may be mangled).
26746 This attribute is not writable.
26749 @defvar Symbol.print_name
26750 The name of the symbol in a form suitable for output. This is either
26751 @code{name} or @code{linkage_name}, depending on whether the user
26752 asked @value{GDBN} to display demangled or mangled names.
26755 @defvar Symbol.addr_class
26756 The address class of the symbol. This classifies how to find the value
26757 of a symbol. Each address class is a constant defined in the
26758 @code{gdb} module and described later in this chapter.
26761 @defvar Symbol.needs_frame
26762 This is @code{True} if evaluating this symbol's value requires a frame
26763 (@pxref{Frames In Python}) and @code{False} otherwise. Typically,
26764 local variables will require a frame, but other symbols will not.
26767 @defvar Symbol.is_argument
26768 @code{True} if the symbol is an argument of a function.
26771 @defvar Symbol.is_constant
26772 @code{True} if the symbol is a constant.
26775 @defvar Symbol.is_function
26776 @code{True} if the symbol is a function or a method.
26779 @defvar Symbol.is_variable
26780 @code{True} if the symbol is a variable.
26783 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following methods:
26785 @defun Symbol.is_valid ()
26786 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symbol} object is valid,
26787 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symbol} object can become invalid if
26788 the symbol it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any longer.
26789 All other @code{gdb.Symbol} methods will throw an exception if it is
26790 invalid at the time the method is called.
26793 @defun Symbol.value (@r{[}frame@r{]})
26794 Compute the value of the symbol, as a @code{gdb.Value}. For
26795 functions, this computes the address of the function, cast to the
26796 appropriate type. If the symbol requires a frame in order to compute
26797 its value, then @var{frame} must be given. If @var{frame} is not
26798 given, or if @var{frame} is invalid, then this method will throw an
26802 The available domain categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
26803 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
26806 @findex SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
26807 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
26808 @item gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
26809 This is used when a domain has not been discovered or none of the
26810 following domains apply. This usually indicates an error either
26811 in the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
26812 @findex SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
26813 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
26814 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
26815 This domain contains variables, function names, typedef names and enum
26817 @findex SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
26818 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
26819 @item gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
26820 This domain holds struct, union and enum type names.
26821 @findex SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
26822 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
26823 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
26824 This domain contains names of labels (for gotos).
26825 @findex SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
26826 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
26827 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
26828 This domain holds a subset of the @code{SYMBOLS_VAR_DOMAIN}; it
26829 contains everything minus functions and types.
26830 @findex SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
26831 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
26832 @item gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTION_DOMAIN
26833 This domain contains all functions.
26834 @findex SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
26835 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
26836 @item gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
26837 This domain contains all types.
26840 The available address class categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
26841 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
26844 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
26845 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
26846 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
26847 If this is returned by address class, it indicates an error either in
26848 the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
26849 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
26850 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
26851 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
26852 Value is constant int.
26853 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
26854 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
26855 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
26856 Value is at a fixed address.
26857 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
26858 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
26859 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
26860 Value is in a register.
26861 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
26862 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
26863 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
26864 Value is an argument. This value is at the offset stored within the
26865 symbol inside the frame's argument list.
26866 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
26867 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
26868 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
26869 Value address is stored in the frame's argument list. Just like
26870 @code{LOC_ARG} except that the value's address is stored at the
26871 offset, not the value itself.
26872 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
26873 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
26874 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
26875 Value is a specified register. Just like @code{LOC_REGISTER} except
26876 the register holds the address of the argument instead of the argument
26878 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
26879 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
26880 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
26881 Value is a local variable.
26882 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
26883 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
26884 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
26885 Value not used. Symbols in the domain @code{SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN} all
26887 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
26888 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
26889 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
26891 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
26892 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
26893 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
26894 Value is a byte-sequence.
26895 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
26896 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
26897 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
26898 Value is at a fixed address, but the address of the variable has to be
26899 determined from the minimal symbol table whenever the variable is
26901 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
26902 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
26903 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
26904 The value does not actually exist in the program.
26905 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
26906 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
26907 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
26908 The value's address is a computed location.
26911 @node Symbol Tables In Python
26912 @subsubsection Symbol table representation in Python.
26914 @cindex symbol tables in python
26916 @tindex gdb.Symtab_and_line
26918 Access to symbol table data maintained by @value{GDBN} on the inferior
26919 is exposed to Python via two objects: @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} and
26920 @code{gdb.Symtab}. Symbol table and line data for a frame is returned
26921 from the @code{find_sal} method in @code{gdb.Frame} object.
26922 @xref{Frames In Python}.
26924 For more information on @value{GDBN}'s symbol table management, see
26925 @ref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, for more information.
26927 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following attributes:
26929 @defvar Symtab_and_line.symtab
26930 The symbol table object (@code{gdb.Symtab}) for this frame.
26931 This attribute is not writable.
26934 @defvar Symtab_and_line.pc
26935 Indicates the start of the address range occupied by code for the
26936 current source line. This attribute is not writable.
26939 @defvar Symtab_and_line.last
26940 Indicates the end of the address range occupied by code for the current
26941 source line. This attribute is not writable.
26944 @defvar Symtab_and_line.line
26945 Indicates the current line number for this object. This
26946 attribute is not writable.
26949 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following methods:
26951 @defun Symtab_and_line.is_valid ()
26952 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object is valid,
26953 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object can become
26954 invalid if the Symbol table and line object it refers to does not
26955 exist in @value{GDBN} any longer. All other
26956 @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} methods will throw an exception if it is
26957 invalid at the time the method is called.
26960 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following attributes:
26962 @defvar Symtab.filename
26963 The symbol table's source filename. This attribute is not writable.
26966 @defvar Symtab.objfile
26967 The symbol table's backing object file. @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
26968 This attribute is not writable.
26971 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following methods:
26973 @defun Symtab.is_valid ()
26974 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab} object is valid,
26975 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab} object can become invalid if
26976 the symbol table it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any
26977 longer. All other @code{gdb.Symtab} methods will throw an exception
26978 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
26981 @defun Symtab.fullname ()
26982 Return the symbol table's source absolute file name.
26985 @defun Symtab.global_block ()
26986 Return the global block of the underlying symbol table.
26987 @xref{Blocks In Python}.
26990 @defun Symtab.static_block ()
26991 Return the static block of the underlying symbol table.
26992 @xref{Blocks In Python}.
26995 @node Breakpoints In Python
26996 @subsubsection Manipulating breakpoints using Python
26998 @cindex breakpoints in python
26999 @tindex gdb.Breakpoint
27001 Python code can manipulate breakpoints via the @code{gdb.Breakpoint}
27004 @defun Breakpoint.__init__ (spec @r{[}, type @r{[}, wp_class @r{[},internal@r{]]]})
27005 Create a new breakpoint. @var{spec} is a string naming the
27006 location of the breakpoint, or an expression that defines a
27007 watchpoint. The contents can be any location recognized by the
27008 @code{break} command, or in the case of a watchpoint, by the @code{watch}
27009 command. The optional @var{type} denotes the breakpoint to create
27010 from the types defined later in this chapter. This argument can be
27011 either: @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT} or @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. @var{type}
27012 defaults to @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT}. The optional @var{internal} argument
27013 allows the breakpoint to become invisible to the user. The breakpoint
27014 will neither be reported when created, nor will it be listed in the
27015 output from @code{info breakpoints} (but will be listed with the
27016 @code{maint info breakpoints} command). The optional @var{wp_class}
27017 argument defines the class of watchpoint to create, if @var{type} is
27018 @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. If a watchpoint class is not provided, it is
27019 assumed to be a @code{gdb.WP_WRITE} class.
27022 @defun Breakpoint.stop (self)
27023 The @code{gdb.Breakpoint} class can be sub-classed and, in
27024 particular, you may choose to implement the @code{stop} method.
27025 If this method is defined as a sub-class of @code{gdb.Breakpoint},
27026 it will be called when the inferior reaches any location of a
27027 breakpoint which instantiates that sub-class. If the method returns
27028 @code{True}, the inferior will be stopped at the location of the
27029 breakpoint, otherwise the inferior will continue.
27031 If there are multiple breakpoints at the same location with a
27032 @code{stop} method, each one will be called regardless of the
27033 return status of the previous. This ensures that all @code{stop}
27034 methods have a chance to execute at that location. In this scenario
27035 if one of the methods returns @code{True} but the others return
27036 @code{False}, the inferior will still be stopped.
27038 You should not alter the execution state of the inferior (i.e.@:, step,
27039 next, etc.), alter the current frame context (i.e.@:, change the current
27040 active frame), or alter, add or delete any breakpoint. As a general
27041 rule, you should not alter any data within @value{GDBN} or the inferior
27044 Example @code{stop} implementation:
27047 class MyBreakpoint (gdb.Breakpoint):
27049 inf_val = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo")
27056 The available watchpoint types represented by constants are defined in the
27061 @findex gdb.WP_READ
27063 Read only watchpoint.
27066 @findex gdb.WP_WRITE
27068 Write only watchpoint.
27071 @findex gdb.WP_ACCESS
27072 @item gdb.WP_ACCESS
27073 Read/Write watchpoint.
27076 @defun Breakpoint.is_valid ()
27077 Return @code{True} if this @code{Breakpoint} object is valid,
27078 @code{False} otherwise. A @code{Breakpoint} object can become invalid
27079 if the user deletes the breakpoint. In this case, the object still
27080 exists, but the underlying breakpoint does not. In the cases of
27081 watchpoint scope, the watchpoint remains valid even if execution of the
27082 inferior leaves the scope of that watchpoint.
27085 @defun Breakpoint.delete
27086 Permanently deletes the @value{GDBN} breakpoint. This also
27087 invalidates the Python @code{Breakpoint} object. Any further access
27088 to this object's attributes or methods will raise an error.
27091 @defvar Breakpoint.enabled
27092 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is enabled, and
27093 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
27096 @defvar Breakpoint.silent
27097 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is silent, and
27098 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
27100 Note that a breakpoint can also be silent if it has commands and the
27101 first command is @code{silent}. This is not reported by the
27102 @code{silent} attribute.
27105 @defvar Breakpoint.thread
27106 If the breakpoint is thread-specific, this attribute holds the thread
27107 id. If the breakpoint is not thread-specific, this attribute is
27108 @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
27111 @defvar Breakpoint.task
27112 If the breakpoint is Ada task-specific, this attribute holds the Ada task
27113 id. If the breakpoint is not task-specific (or the underlying
27114 language is not Ada), this attribute is @code{None}. This attribute
27118 @defvar Breakpoint.ignore_count
27119 This attribute holds the ignore count for the breakpoint, an integer.
27120 This attribute is writable.
27123 @defvar Breakpoint.number
27124 This attribute holds the breakpoint's number --- the identifier used by
27125 the user to manipulate the breakpoint. This attribute is not writable.
27128 @defvar Breakpoint.type
27129 This attribute holds the breakpoint's type --- the identifier used to
27130 determine the actual breakpoint type or use-case. This attribute is not
27134 @defvar Breakpoint.visible
27135 This attribute tells whether the breakpoint is visible to the user
27136 when set, or when the @samp{info breakpoints} command is run. This
27137 attribute is not writable.
27140 The available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
27144 @findex BP_BREAKPOINT
27145 @findex gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
27146 @item gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
27147 Normal code breakpoint.
27149 @findex BP_WATCHPOINT
27150 @findex gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
27151 @item gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
27152 Watchpoint breakpoint.
27154 @findex BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
27155 @findex gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
27156 @item gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
27157 Hardware assisted watchpoint.
27159 @findex BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
27160 @findex gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
27161 @item gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
27162 Hardware assisted read watchpoint.
27164 @findex BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
27165 @findex gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
27166 @item gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
27167 Hardware assisted access watchpoint.
27170 @defvar Breakpoint.hit_count
27171 This attribute holds the hit count for the breakpoint, an integer.
27172 This attribute is writable, but currently it can only be set to zero.
27175 @defvar Breakpoint.location
27176 This attribute holds the location of the breakpoint, as specified by
27177 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have a location
27178 (that is, it is a watchpoint) the attribute's value is @code{None}. This
27179 attribute is not writable.
27182 @defvar Breakpoint.expression
27183 This attribute holds a breakpoint expression, as specified by
27184 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have an
27185 expression (the breakpoint is not a watchpoint) the attribute's value
27186 is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
27189 @defvar Breakpoint.condition
27190 This attribute holds the condition of the breakpoint, as specified by
27191 the user. It is a string. If there is no condition, this attribute's
27192 value is @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
27195 @defvar Breakpoint.commands
27196 This attribute holds the commands attached to the breakpoint. If
27197 there are commands, this attribute's value is a string holding all the
27198 commands, separated by newlines. If there are no commands, this
27199 attribute is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
27202 @node Finish Breakpoints in Python
27203 @subsubsection Finish Breakpoints
27205 @cindex python finish breakpoints
27206 @tindex gdb.FinishBreakpoint
27208 A finish breakpoint is a temporary breakpoint set at the return address of
27209 a frame, based on the @code{finish} command. @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint}
27210 extends @code{gdb.Breakpoint}. The underlying breakpoint will be disabled
27211 and deleted when the execution will run out of the breakpoint scope (i.e.@:
27212 @code{Breakpoint.stop} or @code{FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope} triggered).
27213 Finish breakpoints are thread specific and must be create with the right
27216 @defun FinishBreakpoint.__init__ (@r{[}frame@r{]} @r{[}, internal@r{]})
27217 Create a finish breakpoint at the return address of the @code{gdb.Frame}
27218 object @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is not provided, this defaults to the
27219 newest frame. The optional @var{internal} argument allows the breakpoint to
27220 become invisible to the user. @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for further
27221 details about this argument.
27224 @defun FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope (self)
27225 In some circumstances (e.g.@: @code{longjmp}, C@t{++} exceptions, @value{GDBN}
27226 @code{return} command, @dots{}), a function may not properly terminate, and
27227 thus never hit the finish breakpoint. When @value{GDBN} notices such a
27228 situation, the @code{out_of_scope} callback will be triggered.
27230 You may want to sub-class @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} and override this
27234 class MyFinishBreakpoint (gdb.FinishBreakpoint)
27236 print "normal finish"
27239 def out_of_scope ():
27240 print "abnormal finish"
27244 @defvar FinishBreakpoint.return_value
27245 When @value{GDBN} is stopped at a finish breakpoint and the frame
27246 used to build the @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} object had debug symbols, this
27247 attribute will contain a @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding to the return
27248 value of the function. The value will be @code{None} if the function return
27249 type is @code{void} or if the return value was not computable. This attribute
27253 @node Lazy Strings In Python
27254 @subsubsection Python representation of lazy strings.
27256 @cindex lazy strings in python
27257 @tindex gdb.LazyString
27259 A @dfn{lazy string} is a string whose contents is not retrieved or
27260 encoded until it is needed.
27262 A @code{gdb.LazyString} is represented in @value{GDBN} as an
27263 @code{address} that points to a region of memory, an @code{encoding}
27264 that will be used to encode that region of memory, and a @code{length}
27265 to delimit the region of memory that represents the string. The
27266 difference between a @code{gdb.LazyString} and a string wrapped within
27267 a @code{gdb.Value} is that a @code{gdb.LazyString} will be treated
27268 differently by @value{GDBN} when printing. A @code{gdb.LazyString} is
27269 retrieved and encoded during printing, while a @code{gdb.Value}
27270 wrapping a string is immediately retrieved and encoded on creation.
27272 A @code{gdb.LazyString} object has the following functions:
27274 @defun LazyString.value ()
27275 Convert the @code{gdb.LazyString} to a @code{gdb.Value}. This value
27276 will point to the string in memory, but will lose all the delayed
27277 retrieval, encoding and handling that @value{GDBN} applies to a
27278 @code{gdb.LazyString}.
27281 @defvar LazyString.address
27282 This attribute holds the address of the string. This attribute is not
27286 @defvar LazyString.length
27287 This attribute holds the length of the string in characters. If the
27288 length is -1, then the string will be fetched and encoded up to the
27289 first null of appropriate width. This attribute is not writable.
27292 @defvar LazyString.encoding
27293 This attribute holds the encoding that will be applied to the string
27294 when the string is printed by @value{GDBN}. If the encoding is not
27295 set, or contains an empty string, then @value{GDBN} will select the
27296 most appropriate encoding when the string is printed. This attribute
27300 @defvar LazyString.type
27301 This attribute holds the type that is represented by the lazy string's
27302 type. For a lazy string this will always be a pointer type. To
27303 resolve this to the lazy string's character type, use the type's
27304 @code{target} method. @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not
27308 @node Architectures In Python
27309 @subsubsection Python representation of architectures
27310 @cindex Python architectures
27312 @value{GDBN} uses architecture specific parameters and artifacts in a
27313 number of its various computations. An architecture is represented
27314 by an instance of the @code{gdb.Architecture} class.
27316 A @code{gdb.Architecture} class has the following methods:
27318 @defun Architecture.name ()
27319 Return the name (string value) of the architecture.
27322 @defun Architecture.disassemble (@var{start_pc} @r{[}, @var{end_pc} @r{[}, @var{count}@r{]]})
27323 Return a list of disassembled instructions starting from the memory
27324 address @var{start_pc}. The optional arguments @var{end_pc} and
27325 @var{count} determine the number of instructions in the returned list.
27326 If both the optional arguments @var{end_pc} and @var{count} are
27327 specified, then a list of at most @var{count} disassembled instructions
27328 whose start address falls in the closed memory address interval from
27329 @var{start_pc} to @var{end_pc} are returned. If @var{end_pc} is not
27330 specified, but @var{count} is specified, then @var{count} number of
27331 instructions starting from the address @var{start_pc} are returned. If
27332 @var{count} is not specified but @var{end_pc} is specified, then all
27333 instructions whose start address falls in the closed memory address
27334 interval from @var{start_pc} to @var{end_pc} are returned. If neither
27335 @var{end_pc} nor @var{count} are specified, then a single instruction at
27336 @var{start_pc} is returned. For all of these cases, each element of the
27337 returned list is a Python @code{dict} with the following string keys:
27342 The value corresponding to this key is a Python long integer capturing
27343 the memory address of the instruction.
27346 The value corresponding to this key is a string value which represents
27347 the instruction with assembly language mnemonics. The assembly
27348 language flavor used is the same as that specified by the current CLI
27349 variable @code{disassembly-flavor}. @xref{Machine Code}.
27352 The value corresponding to this key is the length (integer value) of the
27353 instruction in bytes.
27358 @node Python Auto-loading
27359 @subsection Python Auto-loading
27360 @cindex Python auto-loading
27362 When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
27363 command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
27364 @value{GDBN} will look for Python support scripts in several ways:
27365 @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} (@pxref{objfile-gdb.py file})
27366 and @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
27367 (@pxref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}).
27369 The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
27370 debugging commands and scripts.
27372 Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled,
27373 and the list of auto-loaded scripts can be printed.
27376 @anchor{set auto-load python-scripts}
27377 @kindex set auto-load python-scripts
27378 @item set auto-load python-scripts [on|off]
27379 Enable or disable the auto-loading of Python scripts.
27381 @anchor{show auto-load python-scripts}
27382 @kindex show auto-load python-scripts
27383 @item show auto-load python-scripts
27384 Show whether auto-loading of Python scripts is enabled or disabled.
27386 @anchor{info auto-load python-scripts}
27387 @kindex info auto-load python-scripts
27388 @cindex print list of auto-loaded Python scripts
27389 @item info auto-load python-scripts [@var{regexp}]
27390 Print the list of all Python scripts that @value{GDBN} auto-loaded.
27392 Also printed is the list of Python scripts that were mentioned in
27393 the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section and were not found
27394 (@pxref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}).
27395 This is useful because their names are not printed when @value{GDBN}
27396 tries to load them and fails. There may be many of them, and printing
27397 an error message for each one is problematic.
27399 If @var{regexp} is supplied only Python scripts with matching names are printed.
27404 (gdb) info auto-load python-scripts
27406 Yes py-section-script.py
27407 full name: /tmp/py-section-script.py
27408 No my-foo-pretty-printers.py
27412 When reading an auto-loaded file, @value{GDBN} sets the
27413 @dfn{current objfile}. This is available via the @code{gdb.current_objfile}
27414 function (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}). This can be useful for
27415 registering objfile-specific pretty-printers and frame-filters.
27418 * objfile-gdb.py file:: The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
27419 * dotdebug_gdb_scripts section:: The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
27420 * Which flavor to choose?::
27423 @node objfile-gdb.py file
27424 @subsubsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
27425 @cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
27427 When a new object file is read, @value{GDBN} looks for
27428 a file named @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} (we call it @var{script-name} below),
27429 where @var{objfile} is the object file's real name, formed by ensuring
27430 that the file name is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving
27431 @code{.} and @code{..} components. If this file exists and is
27432 readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a Python script.
27434 If this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
27435 @var{script-name} file in all of the directories as specified below.
27437 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
27438 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
27440 For object files using @file{.exe} suffix @value{GDBN} tries to load first the
27441 scripts normally according to its @file{.exe} filename. But if no scripts are
27442 found @value{GDBN} also tries script filenames matching the object file without
27443 its @file{.exe} suffix. This @file{.exe} stripping is case insensitive and it
27444 is attempted on any platform. This makes the script filenames compatible
27445 between Unix and MS-Windows hosts.
27448 @anchor{set auto-load scripts-directory}
27449 @kindex set auto-load scripts-directory
27450 @item set auto-load scripts-directory @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
27451 Control @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location. Multiple directory entries
27452 may be delimited by the host platform path separator in use
27453 (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS).
27455 Each entry here needs to be covered also by the security setting
27456 @code{set auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{set auto-load safe-path}).
27458 @anchor{with-auto-load-dir}
27459 This variable defaults to @file{$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load}. The default
27460 @code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by @value{GDBN}
27461 configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-dir}.
27463 Any reference to @file{$debugdir} will get replaced by
27464 @var{debug-file-directory} value (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}) and any
27465 reference to @file{$datadir} will get replaced by @var{data-directory} which is
27466 determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}). @file{$debugdir} and
27467 @file{$datadir} must be placed as a directory component --- either alone or
27468 delimited by @file{/} or @file{\} directory separators, depending on the host
27471 The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
27472 systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
27473 to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
27475 @anchor{show auto-load scripts-directory}
27476 @kindex show auto-load scripts-directory
27477 @item show auto-load scripts-directory
27478 Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
27481 @value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded this way.
27482 @value{GDBN} will load the associated script every time the corresponding
27483 @var{objfile} is opened.
27484 So your @file{-gdb.py} file should be careful to avoid errors if it
27485 is evaluated more than once.
27487 @node dotdebug_gdb_scripts section
27488 @subsubsection The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
27489 @cindex @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
27491 For systems using file formats like ELF and COFF,
27492 when @value{GDBN} loads a new object file
27493 it will look for a special section named @samp{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
27494 If this section exists, its contents is a list of names of scripts to load.
27496 @value{GDBN} will look for each specified script file first in the
27497 current directory and then along the source search path
27498 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}),
27499 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched, since the compilation
27500 directory is not relevant to scripts.
27502 Entries can be placed in section @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} with,
27503 for example, this GCC macro:
27506 /* Note: The "MS" section flags are to remove duplicates. */
27507 #define DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT(script_name) \
27509 .pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n\
27511 .asciz \"" script_name "\"\n\
27517 Then one can reference the macro in a header or source file like this:
27520 DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT ("my-app-scripts.py")
27523 The script name may include directories if desired.
27525 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
27526 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
27528 If the macro is put in a header, any application or library
27529 using this header will get a reference to the specified script.
27531 @node Which flavor to choose?
27532 @subsubsection Which flavor to choose?
27534 Given the multiple ways of auto-loading Python scripts, it might not always
27535 be clear which one to choose. This section provides some guidance.
27537 Benefits of the @file{-gdb.py} way:
27541 Can be used with file formats that don't support multiple sections.
27544 Ease of finding scripts for public libraries.
27546 Scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section are searched for
27547 in the source search path.
27548 For publicly installed libraries, e.g., @file{libstdc++}, there typically
27549 isn't a source directory in which to find the script.
27552 Doesn't require source code additions.
27555 Benefits of the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} way:
27559 Works with static linking.
27561 Scripts for libraries done the @file{-gdb.py} way require an objfile to
27562 trigger their loading. When an application is statically linked the only
27563 objfile available is the executable, and it is cumbersome to attach all the
27564 scripts from all the input libraries to the executable's @file{-gdb.py} script.
27567 Works with classes that are entirely inlined.
27569 Some classes can be entirely inlined, and thus there may not be an associated
27570 shared library to attach a @file{-gdb.py} script to.
27573 Scripts needn't be copied out of the source tree.
27575 In some circumstances, apps can be built out of large collections of internal
27576 libraries, and the build infrastructure necessary to install the
27577 @file{-gdb.py} scripts in a place where @value{GDBN} can find them is
27578 cumbersome. It may be easier to specify the scripts in the
27579 @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section as relative paths, and add a path to the
27580 top of the source tree to the source search path.
27583 @node Python modules
27584 @subsection Python modules
27585 @cindex python modules
27587 @value{GDBN} comes with several modules to assist writing Python code.
27590 * gdb.printing:: Building and registering pretty-printers.
27591 * gdb.types:: Utilities for working with types.
27592 * gdb.prompt:: Utilities for prompt value substitution.
27596 @subsubsection gdb.printing
27597 @cindex gdb.printing
27599 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
27603 @item PrettyPrinter (@var{name}, @var{subprinters}=None)
27604 This class specifies the API that makes @samp{info pretty-printer},
27605 @samp{enable pretty-printer} and @samp{disable pretty-printer} work.
27606 Pretty-printers should generally inherit from this class.
27608 @item SubPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
27609 For printers that handle multiple types, this class specifies the
27610 corresponding API for the subprinters.
27612 @item RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
27613 Utility class for handling multiple printers, all recognized via
27614 regular expressions.
27615 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for an example.
27617 @item FlagEnumerationPrinter (@var{name})
27618 A pretty-printer which handles printing of @code{enum} values. Unlike
27619 @value{GDBN}'s built-in @code{enum} printing, this printer attempts to
27620 work properly when there is some overlap between the enumeration
27621 constants. @var{name} is the name of the printer and also the name of
27622 the @code{enum} type to look up.
27624 @item register_pretty_printer (@var{obj}, @var{printer}, @var{replace}=False)
27625 Register @var{printer} with the pretty-printer list of @var{obj}.
27626 If @var{replace} is @code{True} then any existing copy of the printer
27627 is replaced. Otherwise a @code{RuntimeError} exception is raised
27628 if a printer with the same name already exists.
27632 @subsubsection gdb.types
27635 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
27636 @code{gdb.Type} objects.
27639 @item get_basic_type (@var{type})
27640 Return @var{type} with const and volatile qualifiers stripped,
27641 and with typedefs and C@t{++} references converted to the underlying type.
27646 typedef const int const_int;
27648 const_int& foo_ref (foo);
27649 int main () @{ return 0; @}
27656 (gdb) python import gdb.types
27657 (gdb) python foo_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo_ref")
27658 (gdb) python print gdb.types.get_basic_type(foo_ref.type)
27662 @item has_field (@var{type}, @var{field})
27663 Return @code{True} if @var{type}, assumed to be a type with fields
27664 (e.g., a structure or union), has field @var{field}.
27666 @item make_enum_dict (@var{enum_type})
27667 Return a Python @code{dictionary} type produced from @var{enum_type}.
27669 @item deep_items (@var{type})
27670 Returns a Python iterator similar to the standard
27671 @code{gdb.Type.iteritems} method, except that the iterator returned
27672 by @code{deep_items} will recursively traverse anonymous struct or
27673 union fields. For example:
27687 Then in @value{GDBN}:
27689 (@value{GDBP}) python import gdb.types
27690 (@value{GDBP}) python struct_a = gdb.lookup_type("struct A")
27691 (@value{GDBP}) python print struct_a.keys ()
27693 (@value{GDBP}) python print [k for k,v in gdb.types.deep_items(struct_a)]
27694 @{['a', 'b0', 'b1']@}
27697 @item get_type_recognizers ()
27698 Return a list of the enabled type recognizers for the current context.
27699 This is called by @value{GDBN} during the type-printing process
27700 (@pxref{Type Printing API}).
27702 @item apply_type_recognizers (recognizers, type_obj)
27703 Apply the type recognizers, @var{recognizers}, to the type object
27704 @var{type_obj}. If any recognizer returns a string, return that
27705 string. Otherwise, return @code{None}. This is called by
27706 @value{GDBN} during the type-printing process (@pxref{Type Printing
27709 @item register_type_printer (locus, printer)
27710 This is a convenience function to register a type printer.
27711 @var{printer} is the type printer to register. It must implement the
27712 type printer protocol. @var{locus} is either a @code{gdb.Objfile}, in
27713 which case the printer is registered with that objfile; a
27714 @code{gdb.Progspace}, in which case the printer is registered with
27715 that progspace; or @code{None}, in which case the printer is
27716 registered globally.
27719 This is a base class that implements the type printer protocol. Type
27720 printers are encouraged, but not required, to derive from this class.
27721 It defines a constructor:
27723 @defmethod TypePrinter __init__ (self, name)
27724 Initialize the type printer with the given name. The new printer
27725 starts in the enabled state.
27731 @subsubsection gdb.prompt
27734 This module provides a method for prompt value-substitution.
27737 @item substitute_prompt (@var{string})
27738 Return @var{string} with escape sequences substituted by values. Some
27739 escape sequences take arguments. You can specify arguments inside
27740 ``@{@}'' immediately following the escape sequence.
27742 The escape sequences you can pass to this function are:
27746 Substitute a backslash.
27748 Substitute an ESC character.
27750 Substitute the selected frame; an argument names a frame parameter.
27752 Substitute a newline.
27754 Substitute a parameter's value; the argument names the parameter.
27756 Substitute a carriage return.
27758 Substitute the selected thread; an argument names a thread parameter.
27760 Substitute the version of GDB.
27762 Substitute the current working directory.
27764 Begin a sequence of non-printing characters. These sequences are
27765 typically used with the ESC character, and are not counted in the string
27766 length. Example: ``\[\e[0;34m\](gdb)\[\e[0m\]'' will return a
27767 blue-colored ``(gdb)'' prompt where the length is five.
27769 End a sequence of non-printing characters.
27775 substitute_prompt (``frame: \f,
27776 print arguments: \p@{print frame-arguments@}'')
27779 @exdent will return the string:
27782 "frame: main, print arguments: scalars"
27787 @section Creating new spellings of existing commands
27788 @cindex aliases for commands
27790 It is often useful to define alternate spellings of existing commands.
27791 For example, if a new @value{GDBN} command defined in Python has
27792 a long name to type, it is handy to have an abbreviated version of it
27793 that involves less typing.
27795 @value{GDBN} itself uses aliases. For example @samp{s} is an alias
27796 of the @samp{step} command even though it is otherwise an ambiguous
27797 abbreviation of other commands like @samp{set} and @samp{show}.
27799 Aliases are also used to provide shortened or more common versions
27800 of multi-word commands. For example, @value{GDBN} provides the
27801 @samp{tty} alias of the @samp{set inferior-tty} command.
27803 You can define a new alias with the @samp{alias} command.
27808 @item alias [-a] [--] @var{ALIAS} = @var{COMMAND}
27812 @var{ALIAS} specifies the name of the new alias.
27813 Each word of @var{ALIAS} must consist of letters, numbers, dashes and
27816 @var{COMMAND} specifies the name of an existing command
27817 that is being aliased.
27819 The @samp{-a} option specifies that the new alias is an abbreviation
27820 of the command. Abbreviations are not shown in command
27821 lists displayed by the @samp{help} command.
27823 The @samp{--} option specifies the end of options,
27824 and is useful when @var{ALIAS} begins with a dash.
27826 Here is a simple example showing how to make an abbreviation
27827 of a command so that there is less to type.
27828 Suppose you were tired of typing @samp{disas}, the current
27829 shortest unambiguous abbreviation of the @samp{disassemble} command
27830 and you wanted an even shorter version named @samp{di}.
27831 The following will accomplish this.
27834 (gdb) alias -a di = disas
27837 Note that aliases are different from user-defined commands.
27838 With a user-defined command, you also need to write documentation
27839 for it with the @samp{document} command.
27840 An alias automatically picks up the documentation of the existing command.
27842 Here is an example where we make @samp{elms} an abbreviation of
27843 @samp{elements} in the @samp{set print elements} command.
27844 This is to show that you can make an abbreviation of any part
27848 (gdb) alias -a set print elms = set print elements
27849 (gdb) alias -a show print elms = show print elements
27850 (gdb) set p elms 20
27852 Limit on string chars or array elements to print is 200.
27855 Note that if you are defining an alias of a @samp{set} command,
27856 and you want to have an alias for the corresponding @samp{show}
27857 command, then you need to define the latter separately.
27859 Unambiguously abbreviated commands are allowed in @var{COMMAND} and
27860 @var{ALIAS}, just as they are normally.
27863 (gdb) alias -a set pr elms = set p ele
27866 Finally, here is an example showing the creation of a one word
27867 alias for a more complex command.
27868 This creates alias @samp{spe} of the command @samp{set print elements}.
27871 (gdb) alias spe = set print elements
27876 @chapter Command Interpreters
27877 @cindex command interpreters
27879 @value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
27880 infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
27881 between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
27883 @value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
27884 interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
27885 and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
27886 describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
27888 By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
27889 However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
27890 interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
27891 startup options. Defined interpreters include:
27895 @cindex console interpreter
27896 The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
27897 used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
27898 @value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
27901 @cindex mi interpreter
27902 The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
27903 by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
27904 or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
27908 @cindex mi2 interpreter
27909 The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
27912 @cindex mi1 interpreter
27913 The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
27917 @cindex invoke another interpreter
27918 The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
27919 switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
27920 precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
27921 enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
27922 @value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
27923 the IDE inoperable!
27925 @kindex interpreter-exec
27926 Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
27927 commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
27928 command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
27929 @code{interpreter-exec} command:
27932 interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
27935 @sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
27936 @value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
27939 @chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
27941 @cindex Text User Interface
27944 * TUI Overview:: TUI overview
27945 * TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
27946 * TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
27947 * TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
27948 * TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
27951 The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
27952 interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
27953 file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
27954 commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
27955 on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
27958 The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
27959 @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
27960 You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
27961 using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
27962 @xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
27965 @section TUI Overview
27967 In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
27971 This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
27972 prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
27973 managed using readline.
27976 The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
27977 line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
27980 The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
27983 This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
27984 when their values change.
27987 The source and assembly windows show the current program position
27988 by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
27989 Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
27990 indicates the breakpoint type:
27994 Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
27997 Breakpoint which was never hit.
28000 Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
28003 Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
28006 The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
28010 Breakpoint is enabled.
28013 Breakpoint is disabled.
28016 The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
28017 thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
28020 These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
28021 window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
28032 source and assembly,
28035 source and registers, or
28038 assembly and registers.
28041 A status line above the command window shows the following information:
28045 Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
28046 (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
28049 Gives the current process or thread number.
28050 When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
28053 Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
28054 The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
28055 When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
28056 the string @code{??} is displayed.
28059 Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
28060 When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
28063 Indicates the current program counter address.
28067 @section TUI Key Bindings
28068 @cindex TUI key bindings
28070 The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
28071 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
28072 (@pxref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library}).
28074 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
28075 (@pxref{Command Line Editing}).
28077 The following key bindings are installed for both TUI mode and the
28078 @value{GDBN} standard mode.
28087 Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
28088 the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
28089 its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
28090 the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
28091 The screen is then refreshed.
28095 Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
28096 either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
28097 is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
28099 Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
28103 Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
28104 layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
28105 When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
28106 previous layout and the new one.
28108 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
28112 Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
28113 (like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
28114 gives the focus to the next TUI window.
28116 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
28120 Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
28121 keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
28124 The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
28129 Scroll the active window one page up.
28133 Scroll the active window one page down.
28137 Scroll the active window one line up.
28141 Scroll the active window one line down.
28145 Scroll the active window one column left.
28149 Scroll the active window one column right.
28153 Refresh the screen.
28156 Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
28157 are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
28158 window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
28159 other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
28160 and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
28162 @node TUI Single Key Mode
28163 @section TUI Single Key Mode
28164 @cindex TUI single key mode
28166 The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
28167 frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
28168 switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
28171 @kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28175 @kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28179 @kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28183 @kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28187 @kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28189 exit the SingleKey mode.
28191 @kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28195 @kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28199 @kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28203 @kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28207 @kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
28212 Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
28213 The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
28214 it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
28215 with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
28216 SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
28217 this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
28221 @section TUI-specific Commands
28222 @cindex TUI commands
28224 The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
28225 These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
28226 the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
28227 of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
28229 Note that if @value{GDBN}'s @code{stdout} is not connected to a
28230 terminal, or @value{GDBN} has been started with the machine interface
28231 interpreter (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}), most of
28232 these commands will fail with an error, because it would not be
28233 possible or desirable to enable curses window management.
28238 List and give the size of all displayed windows.
28242 Display the next layout.
28245 Display the previous layout.
28248 Display the source window only.
28251 Display the assembly window only.
28254 Display the source and assembly window.
28257 Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
28261 Make the next window active for scrolling.
28264 Make the previous window active for scrolling.
28267 Make the source window active for scrolling.
28270 Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
28273 Make the register window active for scrolling.
28276 Make the command window active for scrolling.
28280 Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
28282 @item tui reg float
28284 Show the floating point registers in the register window.
28286 @item tui reg general
28287 Show the general registers in the register window.
28290 Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
28291 their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
28292 following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
28293 @code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
28295 @item tui reg system
28296 Show the system registers in the register window.
28300 Update the source window and the current execution point.
28302 @item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
28303 @itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
28305 Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
28306 lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
28309 @item tabset @var{nchars}
28311 Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
28314 @node TUI Configuration
28315 @section TUI Configuration Variables
28316 @cindex TUI configuration variables
28318 Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
28321 @item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
28322 @kindex set tui border-kind
28323 Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
28324 The possible values are the following:
28327 Use a space character to draw the border.
28330 Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
28333 Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
28334 drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
28337 @item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
28338 @kindex set tui border-mode
28339 @itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
28340 @kindex set tui active-border-mode
28341 Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
28342 or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
28345 Use normal attributes to display the border.
28351 Use reverse video mode.
28354 Use half bright mode.
28356 @item half-standout
28357 Use half bright and standout mode.
28360 Use extra bright or bold mode.
28362 @item bold-standout
28363 Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
28368 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
28371 @cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
28372 A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
28373 edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
28376 To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
28377 executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
28378 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
28379 created Emacs buffer.
28380 @c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
28382 Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
28387 All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
28390 This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
28391 and output done by the program you are debugging.
28393 This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
28394 commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
28397 All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
28398 with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
28399 way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
28403 @value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
28405 Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
28406 source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
28407 left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
28408 source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
28411 Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
28412 usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
28415 We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
28416 a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
28417 that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
28418 @xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
28420 If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
28421 gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
28422 your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
28423 sets your current working directory to the directory associated
28424 with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
28425 program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
28426 some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
28427 @value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
28428 buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
28430 The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
28431 line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
28432 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
28433 ,Commands to Specify Files}.
28435 By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
28436 need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
28437 keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
28438 customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
28441 In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
28442 addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
28446 Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
28449 Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
28450 update the display window to show the current file and location.
28453 Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
28454 calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
28455 to show the current file and location.
28458 Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
28459 display window accordingly.
28462 Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
28463 @code{finish} command.
28466 Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
28470 Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
28471 (@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
28472 like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
28475 Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
28476 @value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
28479 In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
28480 tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
28482 In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
28483 separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
28484 Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
28485 become the current frame and display the associated source in the
28486 source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
28487 selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
28488 speedbar displays watch expressions.
28490 If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
28491 it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
28492 request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
28493 the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
28496 The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
28497 which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
28498 the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
28499 communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
28500 delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
28501 to correspond properly with the code.
28503 A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
28504 given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
28508 @chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
28510 @unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
28512 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
28513 @sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
28514 @value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
28515 @option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
28516 is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
28517 use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
28519 This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
28520 in the form of a reference manual.
28522 Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
28523 features described below are incomplete and subject to change
28524 (@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
28526 @unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
28528 @cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
28529 This chapter uses the following notation:
28533 @code{|} separates two alternatives.
28536 @code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
28537 it may or may not be given.
28540 @code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
28541 may repeat zero or more times.
28544 @code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
28545 may repeat one or more times.
28548 @code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
28552 @heading Dependencies
28556 * GDB/MI General Design::
28557 * GDB/MI Command Syntax::
28558 * GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
28559 * GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
28560 * GDB/MI Output Records::
28561 * GDB/MI Simple Examples::
28562 * GDB/MI Command Description Format::
28563 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
28564 * GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands::
28565 * GDB/MI Program Context::
28566 * GDB/MI Thread Commands::
28567 * GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands::
28568 * GDB/MI Program Execution::
28569 * GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
28570 * GDB/MI Variable Objects::
28571 * GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
28572 * GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
28573 * GDB/MI Symbol Query::
28574 * GDB/MI File Commands::
28576 * GDB/MI Kod Commands::
28577 * GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
28578 * GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
28580 * GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
28581 * GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
28582 * GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
28585 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28586 @node GDB/MI General Design
28587 @section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
28588 @cindex GDB/MI General Design
28590 Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
28591 parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
28592 and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
28593 indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
28594 For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
28595 requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
28596 response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
28597 Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
28598 target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
28599 a command and reported as part of that command response.
28601 The important examples of notifications are:
28605 Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
28606 target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
28607 be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
28608 commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
28609 different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
28610 happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
28611 command itself was successfully executed.
28614 Console output, and status notifications. Console output
28615 notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
28616 diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
28617 report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
28618 this information in command response would mean no output is produced
28619 until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
28622 General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
28623 the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
28624 a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
28625 be included in command response, using notification allows for more
28626 orthogonal frontend design.
28630 There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
28631 @value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
28632 the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
28633 processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
28634 we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
28635 the user interface.
28639 * Context management::
28640 * Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
28644 @node Context management
28645 @subsection Context management
28647 In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
28648 done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
28649 Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
28650 be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
28651 and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
28652 because a command line user would not want to specify that information
28653 explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
28654 @value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
28655 to what thread and frame are the current ones.
28657 In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
28658 useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
28659 itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
28660 each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
28661 want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
28662 increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
28663 frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
28664 should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
28665 make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
28666 @samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
28667 for thread and frame to operate on.
28669 Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
28670 a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
28671 operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
28672 current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
28673 it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
28674 another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
28675 the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
28676 one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
28677 change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
28678 No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
28680 Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
28681 frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
28682 right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
28683 simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
28684 before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
28685 to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
28686 if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
28687 thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
28688 optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
28689 sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
28690 selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
28691 change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
28692 problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
28693 all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
28694 right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
28695 @samp{--frame} options.
28697 @node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
28698 @subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
28700 On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
28701 even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
28702 command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
28703 specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
28704 @code{-gdb-set target-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
28705 either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
28706 frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
28707 find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
28708 @code{-list-target-features} command.
28710 Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
28711 many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
28712 running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
28713 when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
28714 it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
28717 When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
28718 target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
28719 some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
28720 stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
28721 modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
28722 that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
28723 @code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
28724 context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
28725 stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
28726 @samp{--thread} option).
28728 Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
28729 highly target dependent. However, the two commands
28730 @code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
28731 to find the state of a thread, will always work.
28733 @node Thread groups
28734 @subsection Thread groups
28735 @value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
28736 On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
28737 hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
28738 processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
28739 mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
28741 The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
28742 target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
28743 accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
28744 thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
28745 neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
28746 current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
28747 that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
28750 To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
28751 hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
28752 @dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
28753 thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
28754 and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
28755 command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
28756 thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
28757 debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
28758 to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
28759 the members of specific thread group.
28761 To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
28762 wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
28763 introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
28764 @value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
28765 @code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
28766 groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
28767 In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
28768 after attaching to that thread group.
28770 Thread groups are related to inferiors (@pxref{Inferiors and
28771 Programs}). Each inferior corresponds to a thread group of a special
28772 type @samp{process}, and some additional operations are permitted on
28773 such thread groups.
28775 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28776 @node GDB/MI Command Syntax
28777 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
28780 * GDB/MI Input Syntax::
28781 * GDB/MI Output Syntax::
28784 @node GDB/MI Input Syntax
28785 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
28787 @cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
28788 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
28790 @item @var{command} @expansion{}
28791 @code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
28793 @item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
28794 @code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
28795 @var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
28797 @item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
28798 @code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
28799 @code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
28801 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
28802 "any sequence of digits"
28804 @item @var{option} @expansion{}
28805 @code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
28807 @item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
28808 @code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
28810 @item @var{operation} @expansion{}
28811 @emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
28813 @item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
28814 @emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
28815 "-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
28817 @item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
28818 @code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
28820 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
28829 The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
28830 output is described below.
28833 The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
28837 Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
28838 list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
28839 followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
28840 parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
28841 @samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
28848 We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
28851 We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
28854 @node GDB/MI Output Syntax
28855 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
28857 @cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
28858 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
28859 The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
28860 followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
28861 is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
28862 terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
28864 If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
28865 corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
28869 @item @var{output} @expansion{}
28870 @code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
28872 @item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
28873 @code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
28875 @item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
28876 @code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
28878 @item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
28879 @code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
28881 @item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
28882 @code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
28884 @item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
28885 @code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
28887 @item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
28888 @code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
28890 @item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
28891 @code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
28893 @item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
28894 @code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
28896 @item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
28897 @code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
28898 depending on the needs---this is still in development).
28900 @item @var{result} @expansion{}
28901 @code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
28903 @item @var{variable} @expansion{}
28904 @code{ @var{string} }
28906 @item @var{value} @expansion{}
28907 @code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
28909 @item @var{const} @expansion{}
28910 @code{@var{c-string}}
28912 @item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
28913 @code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
28915 @item @var{list} @expansion{}
28916 @code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
28917 @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
28919 @item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
28920 @code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
28922 @item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
28923 @code{"~" @var{c-string}}
28925 @item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
28926 @code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
28928 @item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
28929 @code{"&" @var{c-string}}
28931 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
28934 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
28935 @emph{any sequence of digits}.
28943 All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
28946 The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
28947 for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
28948 may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
28949 output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
28950 all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
28951 target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
28955 @cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
28956 @var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
28957 progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
28958 prefixed by @samp{+}.
28961 @cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
28962 @var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
28963 (stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
28967 @cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
28968 @var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
28969 client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
28970 output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
28973 @cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
28974 @var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
28975 console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
28976 output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
28979 @cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
28980 @var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
28981 All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
28984 @cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
28985 @var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
28986 instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
28987 the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
28990 @cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
28991 New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
28997 @xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
28998 details about the various output records.
29000 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29001 @node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
29002 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
29004 @cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
29005 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
29007 For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
29008 but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
29009 that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
29010 command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
29011 @code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
29012 @samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
29014 This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
29015 recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
29016 (@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
29018 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29019 @node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
29020 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
29021 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
29023 The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
29024 program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
29026 Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
29027 by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
29028 to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
29029 section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
29032 Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
29033 for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
29034 list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
29035 parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
29039 New MI commands may be added.
29042 New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
29045 The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
29046 @code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
29048 @c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
29049 @c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
29051 @c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
29052 @c resolve inconsistencies.
29055 If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
29056 will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
29057 output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
29058 @value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
29059 responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
29061 @c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
29064 The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
29065 end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
29066 follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
29067 @email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
29068 @cindex mailing lists
29070 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29071 @node GDB/MI Output Records
29072 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
29075 * GDB/MI Result Records::
29076 * GDB/MI Stream Records::
29077 * GDB/MI Async Records::
29078 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Information::
29079 * GDB/MI Frame Information::
29080 * GDB/MI Thread Information::
29081 * GDB/MI Ada Exception Information::
29084 @node GDB/MI Result Records
29085 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
29087 @cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
29088 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
29089 In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
29090 @sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
29094 @item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
29095 The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
29100 This result record is equivalent to @samp{^done}. Historically, it
29101 was output instead of @samp{^done} if the command has resumed the
29102 target. This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but
29103 all frontends should treat @samp{^done} and @samp{^running}
29104 identically and rely on the @samp{*running} output record to determine
29105 which threads are resumed.
29109 @value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
29111 @item "^error" "," @var{c-string}
29113 The operation failed. The @code{@var{c-string}} contains the corresponding
29118 @value{GDBN} has terminated.
29122 @node GDB/MI Stream Records
29123 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
29125 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
29126 @cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
29127 @value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
29128 target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
29129 funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
29131 Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
29132 identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
29133 Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
29134 @code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
29135 line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
29138 @item "~" @var{string-output}
29139 The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
29140 CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
29142 @item "@@" @var{string-output}
29143 The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
29144 target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
29145 asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
29147 @item "&" @var{string-output}
29148 The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
29152 @node GDB/MI Async Records
29153 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
29155 @cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
29156 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
29157 @dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
29158 additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
29159 consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
29160 target activity (e.g., target stopped).
29162 The following is the list of possible async records:
29166 @item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
29167 The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
29168 specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
29169 are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
29170 running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
29171 The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
29172 only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
29173 several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
29174 all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
29175 be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
29177 @item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}",core="@var{core}"
29178 The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
29182 @item breakpoint-hit
29183 A breakpoint was reached.
29184 @item watchpoint-trigger
29185 A watchpoint was triggered.
29186 @item read-watchpoint-trigger
29187 A read watchpoint was triggered.
29188 @item access-watchpoint-trigger
29189 An access watchpoint was triggered.
29190 @item function-finished
29191 An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
29192 @item location-reached
29193 An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
29194 @item watchpoint-scope
29195 A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
29196 @item end-stepping-range
29197 An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
29198 similar CLI command was accomplished.
29199 @item exited-signalled
29200 The inferior exited because of a signal.
29202 The inferior exited.
29203 @item exited-normally
29204 The inferior exited normally.
29205 @item signal-received
29206 A signal was received by the inferior.
29208 The inferior has stopped due to a library being loaded or unloaded.
29209 This can happen when @code{stop-on-solib-events} (@pxref{Files}) is
29210 set or when a @code{catch load} or @code{catch unload} catchpoint is
29211 in use (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}).
29213 The inferior has forked. This is reported when @code{catch fork}
29214 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29216 The inferior has vforked. This is reported in when @code{catch vfork}
29217 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29218 @item syscall-entry
29219 The inferior entered a system call. This is reported when @code{catch
29220 syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29221 @item syscall-entry
29222 The inferior returned from a system call. This is reported when
29223 @code{catch syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29225 The inferior called @code{exec}. This is reported when @code{catch exec}
29226 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
29229 The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
29230 -- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
29231 mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
29232 stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
29233 If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
29234 value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
29235 field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
29236 always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
29237 several threads in the list. The @var{core} field reports the
29238 processor core on which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent
29239 if such information is not available.
29241 @item =thread-group-added,id="@var{id}"
29242 @itemx =thread-group-removed,id="@var{id}"
29243 A thread group was either added or removed. The @var{id} field
29244 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. When a thread
29245 group is added, it generally might not be associated with a running
29246 process. When a thread group is removed, its id becomes invalid and
29247 cannot be used in any way.
29249 @item =thread-group-started,id="@var{id}",pid="@var{pid}"
29250 A thread group became associated with a running program,
29251 either because the program was just started or the thread group
29252 was attached to a program. The @var{id} field contains the
29253 @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. The @var{pid} field
29254 contains process identifier, specific to the operating system.
29256 @item =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"[,exit-code="@var{code}"]
29257 A thread group is no longer associated with a running program,
29258 either because the program has exited, or because it was detached
29259 from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
29260 thread group. @var{code} is the exit code of the inferior; it exists
29261 only when the inferior exited with some code.
29263 @item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
29264 @itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
29265 A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
29266 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
29267 field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
29269 @item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
29270 Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
29271 command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
29272 command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
29273 to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
29274 invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
29275 @code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
29277 We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
29278 highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
29281 @item =library-loaded,...
29282 Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
29283 notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
29284 @var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
29285 opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
29286 @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
29287 library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
29288 debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
29289 @var{symbols-loaded} field is emitted only for backward compatibility
29290 and should not be relied on to convey any useful information. The
29291 @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the thread
29292 group in whose context the library was loaded. If the field is
29293 absent, it means the library was loaded in the context of all present
29296 @item =library-unloaded,...
29297 Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
29298 has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
29299 the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
29300 The @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the
29301 thread group in whose context the library was unloaded. If the field is
29302 absent, it means the library was unloaded in the context of all present
29305 @item =traceframe-changed,num=@var{tfnum},tracepoint=@var{tpnum}
29306 @itemx =traceframe-changed,end
29307 Reports that the trace frame was changed and its new number is
29308 @var{tfnum}. The number of the tracepoint associated with this trace
29309 frame is @var{tpnum}.
29311 @item =tsv-created,name=@var{name},initial=@var{initial}
29312 Reports that the new trace state variable @var{name} is created with
29313 initial value @var{initial}.
29315 @item =tsv-deleted,name=@var{name}
29316 @itemx =tsv-deleted
29317 Reports that the trace state variable @var{name} is deleted or all
29318 trace state variables are deleted.
29320 @item =tsv-modified,name=@var{name},initial=@var{initial}[,current=@var{current}]
29321 Reports that the trace state variable @var{name} is modified with
29322 the initial value @var{initial}. The current value @var{current} of
29323 trace state variable is optional and is reported if the current
29324 value of trace state variable is known.
29326 @item =breakpoint-created,bkpt=@{...@}
29327 @itemx =breakpoint-modified,bkpt=@{...@}
29328 @itemx =breakpoint-deleted,id=@var{number}
29329 Reports that a breakpoint was created, modified, or deleted,
29330 respectively. Only user-visible breakpoints are reported to the MI
29333 The @var{bkpt} argument is of the same form as returned by the various
29334 breakpoint commands; @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}. The
29335 @var{number} is the ordinal number of the breakpoint.
29337 Note that if a breakpoint is emitted in the result record of a
29338 command, then it will not also be emitted in an async record.
29340 @item =record-started,thread-group="@var{id}"
29341 @itemx =record-stopped,thread-group="@var{id}"
29342 Execution log recording was either started or stopped on an
29343 inferior. The @var{id} is the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread
29344 group corresponding to the affected inferior.
29346 @item =cmd-param-changed,param=@var{param},value=@var{value}
29347 Reports that a parameter of the command @code{set @var{param}} is
29348 changed to @var{value}. In the multi-word @code{set} command,
29349 the @var{param} is the whole parameter list to @code{set} command.
29350 For example, In command @code{set check type on}, @var{param}
29351 is @code{check type} and @var{value} is @code{on}.
29353 @item =memory-changed,thread-group=@var{id},addr=@var{addr},len=@var{len}[,type="code"]
29354 Reports that bytes from @var{addr} to @var{data} + @var{len} were
29355 written in an inferior. The @var{id} is the identifier of the
29356 thread group corresponding to the affected inferior. The optional
29357 @code{type="code"} part is reported if the memory written to holds
29361 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Information
29362 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Information
29364 When @value{GDBN} reports information about a breakpoint, a
29365 tracepoint, a watchpoint, or a catchpoint, it uses a tuple with the
29370 The breakpoint number. For a breakpoint that represents one location
29371 of a multi-location breakpoint, this will be a dotted pair, like
29375 The type of the breakpoint. For ordinary breakpoints this will be
29376 @samp{breakpoint}, but many values are possible.
29379 If the type of the breakpoint is @samp{catchpoint}, then this
29380 indicates the exact type of catchpoint.
29383 This is the breakpoint disposition---either @samp{del}, meaning that
29384 the breakpoint will be deleted at the next stop, or @samp{keep},
29385 meaning that the breakpoint will not be deleted.
29388 This indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled, in which case the
29389 value is @samp{y}, or disabled, in which case the value is @samp{n}.
29390 Note that this is not the same as the field @code{enable}.
29393 The address of the breakpoint. This may be a hexidecimal number,
29394 giving the address; or the string @samp{<PENDING>}, for a pending
29395 breakpoint; or the string @samp{<MULTIPLE>}, for a breakpoint with
29396 multiple locations. This field will not be present if no address can
29397 be determined. For example, a watchpoint does not have an address.
29400 If known, the function in which the breakpoint appears.
29401 If not known, this field is not present.
29404 The name of the source file which contains this function, if known.
29405 If not known, this field is not present.
29408 The full file name of the source file which contains this function, if
29409 known. If not known, this field is not present.
29412 The line number at which this breakpoint appears, if known.
29413 If not known, this field is not present.
29416 If the source file is not known, this field may be provided. If
29417 provided, this holds the address of the breakpoint, possibly followed
29421 If this breakpoint is pending, this field is present and holds the
29422 text used to set the breakpoint, as entered by the user.
29425 Where this breakpoint's condition is evaluated, either @samp{host} or
29429 If this is a thread-specific breakpoint, then this identifies the
29430 thread in which the breakpoint can trigger.
29433 If this breakpoint is restricted to a particular Ada task, then this
29434 field will hold the task identifier.
29437 If the breakpoint is conditional, this is the condition expression.
29440 The ignore count of the breakpoint.
29443 The enable count of the breakpoint.
29445 @item traceframe-usage
29448 @item static-tracepoint-marker-string-id
29449 For a static tracepoint, the name of the static tracepoint marker.
29452 For a masked watchpoint, this is the mask.
29455 A tracepoint's pass count.
29457 @item original-location
29458 The location of the breakpoint as originally specified by the user.
29459 This field is optional.
29462 The number of times the breakpoint has been hit.
29465 This field is only given for tracepoints. This is either @samp{y},
29466 meaning that the tracepoint is installed, or @samp{n}, meaning that it
29470 Some extra data, the exact contents of which are type-dependent.
29474 For example, here is what the output of @code{-break-insert}
29475 (@pxref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}) might be:
29478 -> -break-insert main
29479 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
29480 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
29481 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",thread-groups=["i1"],
29486 @node GDB/MI Frame Information
29487 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
29489 Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
29490 frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
29495 The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
29496 zero. This field is always present.
29499 The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
29500 be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
29503 The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
29506 The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
29507 address. This field may be absent.
29510 The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
29514 The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
29515 corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
29519 @node GDB/MI Thread Information
29520 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Information
29522 Whenever @value{GDBN} has to report an information about a thread, it
29523 uses a tuple with the following fields:
29527 The numeric id assigned to the thread by @value{GDBN}. This field is
29531 Target-specific string identifying the thread. This field is always present.
29534 Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
29535 It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
29536 frontend. This field is optional.
29539 Either @samp{stopped} or @samp{running}, depending on whether the
29540 thread is presently running. This field is always present.
29543 The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core the
29544 thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
29547 @node GDB/MI Ada Exception Information
29548 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Exception Information
29550 Whenever a @code{*stopped} record is emitted because the program
29551 stopped after hitting an exception catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}),
29552 @value{GDBN} provides the name of the exception that was raised via
29553 the @code{exception-name} field.
29555 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29556 @node GDB/MI Simple Examples
29557 @section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
29558 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
29560 This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
29561 the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
29562 following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
29563 the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
29565 Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
29566 readability, they don't appear in the real output.
29568 @subheading Setting a Breakpoint
29570 Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
29571 information of the breakpoint.
29574 -> -break-insert main
29575 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
29576 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
29577 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",thread-groups=["i1"],
29582 @subheading Program Execution
29584 Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
29585 reason that execution stopped.
29591 <- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
29592 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
29593 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
29594 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
29599 <- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
29603 @subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
29605 Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
29613 Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
29614 take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
29615 performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
29616 or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
29617 @value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
29618 fails to exit in reasonable time.
29620 @subheading A Bad Command
29622 Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
29626 <- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
29631 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29632 @node GDB/MI Command Description Format
29633 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
29635 The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
29636 commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
29638 @subheading Motivation
29640 The motivation for this collection of commands.
29642 @subheading Introduction
29644 A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
29646 @subheading Commands
29648 For each command in the block, the following is described:
29650 @subsubheading Synopsis
29653 -command @var{args}@dots{}
29656 @subsubheading Result
29658 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29660 The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
29662 @subsubheading Example
29664 Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
29665 not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
29668 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29669 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
29670 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
29672 @cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
29673 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
29674 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
29677 @subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
29678 @findex -break-after
29680 @subsubheading Synopsis
29683 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
29686 The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
29687 hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
29688 the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
29689 @samp{-break-list} command below.
29691 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29693 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
29695 @subsubheading Example
29700 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
29701 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
29702 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
29710 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
29711 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29712 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29713 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29714 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29715 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29716 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29717 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29718 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
29719 line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
29724 @subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
29725 @findex -break-catch
29728 @subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
29729 @findex -break-commands
29731 @subsubheading Synopsis
29734 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
29737 Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
29738 @var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
29739 are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
29740 commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
29741 functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
29742 some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
29744 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29746 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
29748 @subsubheading Example
29753 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
29754 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
29755 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
29758 -break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
29763 @subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
29764 @findex -break-condition
29766 @subsubheading Synopsis
29769 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
29772 Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
29773 @var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
29774 @samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
29777 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29779 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
29781 @subsubheading Example
29785 -break-condition 1 1
29789 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
29790 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29791 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29792 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29793 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29794 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29795 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29796 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29797 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
29798 line="5",cond="1",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
29802 @subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
29803 @findex -break-delete
29805 @subsubheading Synopsis
29808 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
29811 Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
29812 list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
29814 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29816 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
29818 @subsubheading Example
29826 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
29827 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29828 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29829 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29830 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29831 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29832 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29837 @subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
29838 @findex -break-disable
29840 @subsubheading Synopsis
29843 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
29846 Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
29847 break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
29849 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29851 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
29853 @subsubheading Example
29861 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
29862 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29863 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29864 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29865 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29866 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29867 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29868 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
29869 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
29870 line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
29874 @subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
29875 @findex -break-enable
29877 @subsubheading Synopsis
29880 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
29883 Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
29885 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29887 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
29889 @subsubheading Example
29897 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
29898 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
29899 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
29900 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
29901 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
29902 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
29903 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
29904 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
29905 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
29906 line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
29910 @subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
29911 @findex -break-info
29913 @subsubheading Synopsis
29916 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
29920 Get information about a single breakpoint.
29922 The result is a table of breakpoints. @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint
29923 Information}, for details on the format of each breakpoint in the
29926 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29928 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
29930 @subsubheading Example
29933 @subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
29934 @findex -break-insert
29936 @subsubheading Synopsis
29939 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
29940 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
29941 [ -p @var{thread-id} ] [ @var{location} ]
29945 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
29952 @item filename:linenum
29953 @item filename:function
29957 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
29961 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
29963 Insert a hardware breakpoint.
29965 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
29966 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
29967 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
29968 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
29971 Create a disabled breakpoint.
29973 Create a tracepoint. @xref{Tracepoints}. When this parameter
29974 is used together with @samp{-h}, a fast tracepoint is created.
29975 @item -c @var{condition}
29976 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
29977 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
29978 Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
29979 @item -p @var{thread-id}
29980 Restrict the breakpoint to the specified @var{thread-id}.
29983 @subsubheading Result
29985 @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Information}, for details on the format of the
29986 resulting breakpoint.
29988 Note: this format is open to change.
29989 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
29991 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29993 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
29994 @samp{hbreak}, and @samp{thbreak}. @c and @samp{rbreak}.
29996 @subsubheading Example
30001 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
30002 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",thread-groups=["i1"],
30005 -break-insert -t foo
30006 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
30007 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
30011 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
30012 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30013 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30014 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30015 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30016 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30017 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30018 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30019 addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
30020 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",thread-groups=["i1"],
30022 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
30023 addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
30024 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
30027 @c -break-insert -r foo.*
30028 @c ~int foo(int, int);
30029 @c ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
30030 @c "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
30035 @subheading The @code{-dprintf-insert} Command
30036 @findex -dprintf-insert
30038 @subsubheading Synopsis
30041 -dprintf-insert [ -t ] [ -f ] [ -d ]
30042 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
30043 [ -p @var{thread-id} ] [ @var{location} ] [ @var{format} ]
30048 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
30051 @item @var{function}
30054 @c @item @var{linenum}
30055 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
30056 @item @var{filename}:function
30057 @item *@var{address}
30060 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
30064 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
30066 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example, if it
30067 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
30068 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
30069 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
30072 Create a disabled breakpoint.
30073 @item -c @var{condition}
30074 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
30075 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
30076 Set the ignore count of the breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ignore count})
30077 to @var{ignore-count}.
30078 @item -p @var{thread-id}
30079 Restrict the breakpoint to the specified @var{thread-id}.
30082 @subsubheading Result
30084 @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Information}, for details on the format of the
30085 resulting breakpoint.
30087 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
30089 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30091 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dprintf}.
30093 @subsubheading Example
30097 4-dprintf-insert foo "At foo entry\n"
30098 4^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="dprintf",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30099 addr="0x000000000040061b",func="foo",file="mi-dprintf.c",
30100 fullname="mi-dprintf.c",line="25",thread-groups=["i1"],
30101 times="0",script=@{"printf \"At foo entry\\n\"","continue"@},
30102 original-location="foo"@}
30104 5-dprintf-insert 26 "arg=%d, g=%d\n" arg g
30105 5^done,bkpt=@{number="2",type="dprintf",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30106 addr="0x000000000040062a",func="foo",file="mi-dprintf.c",
30107 fullname="mi-dprintf.c",line="26",thread-groups=["i1"],
30108 times="0",script=@{"printf \"arg=%d, g=%d\\n\", arg, g","continue"@},
30109 original-location="mi-dprintf.c:26"@}
30113 @subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
30114 @findex -break-list
30116 @subsubheading Synopsis
30122 Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
30126 number of the breakpoint
30128 type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
30130 should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
30133 is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
30135 memory location at which the breakpoint is set
30137 logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
30139 @item Thread-groups
30140 list of thread groups to which this breakpoint applies
30142 number of times the breakpoint has been hit
30145 If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
30146 @code{body} field is an empty list.
30148 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30150 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
30152 @subsubheading Example
30157 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
30158 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30159 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30160 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30161 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30162 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30163 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30164 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30165 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
30167 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30168 addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
30169 line="13",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
30173 Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
30178 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
30179 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30180 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30181 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30182 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30183 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30184 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30189 @subheading The @code{-break-passcount} Command
30190 @findex -break-passcount
30192 @subsubheading Synopsis
30195 -break-passcount @var{tracepoint-number} @var{passcount}
30198 Set the passcount for tracepoint @var{tracepoint-number} to
30199 @var{passcount}. If the breakpoint referred to by @var{tracepoint-number}
30200 is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI
30201 command @samp{passcount}.
30203 @subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
30204 @findex -break-watch
30206 @subsubheading Synopsis
30209 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
30212 Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
30213 @dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
30214 read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
30215 option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
30216 trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
30217 either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
30218 i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
30219 @xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
30221 Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
30222 breakpoints inserted.
30224 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30226 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
30229 @subsubheading Example
30231 Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
30236 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
30241 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
30242 value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
30243 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
30244 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
30248 Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
30249 the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
30250 for the watchpoint going out of scope.
30255 ^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
30260 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
30261 wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
30262 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
30263 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30264 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
30269 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
30270 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
30271 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
30272 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30273 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
30277 Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
30278 execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
30284 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
30287 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
30288 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30289 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30290 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30291 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30292 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30293 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30294 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30295 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
30296 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30297 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",thread-groups=["i1"],
30299 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
30300 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
30305 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
30306 value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
30307 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
30308 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30309 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
30312 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
30313 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30314 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30315 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30316 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30317 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30318 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30319 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30320 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
30321 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30322 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",thread-groups=["i1"],
30324 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
30325 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",thread-groups=["i1"],times="-5"@}]@}
30329 ^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
30330 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
30331 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
30332 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30333 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
30336 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
30337 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
30338 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
30339 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
30340 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
30341 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
30342 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
30343 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
30344 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
30345 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
30346 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
30347 thread-groups=["i1"],times="1"@}]@}
30352 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30353 @node GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands
30354 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Catchpoint Commands
30356 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
30360 * Shared Library GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands::
30361 * Ada Exception GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands::
30364 @node Shared Library GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands
30365 @subsection Shared Library @sc{gdb/mi} Catchpoints
30367 @subheading The @code{-catch-load} Command
30368 @findex -catch-load
30370 @subsubheading Synopsis
30373 -catch-load [ -t ] [ -d ] @var{regexp}
30376 Add a catchpoint for library load events. If the @samp{-t} option is used,
30377 the catchpoint is a temporary one (@pxref{Set Breaks, ,Setting
30378 Breakpoints}). If the @samp{-d} option is used, the catchpoint is created
30379 in a disabled state. The @samp{regexp} argument is a regular
30380 expression used to match the name of the loaded library.
30383 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30385 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch load}.
30387 @subsubheading Example
30390 -catch-load -t foo.so
30391 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="catchpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
30392 what="load of library matching foo.so",catch-type="load",times="0"@}
30397 @subheading The @code{-catch-unload} Command
30398 @findex -catch-unload
30400 @subsubheading Synopsis
30403 -catch-unload [ -t ] [ -d ] @var{regexp}
30406 Add a catchpoint for library unload events. If the @samp{-t} option is
30407 used, the catchpoint is a temporary one (@pxref{Set Breaks, ,Setting
30408 Breakpoints}). If the @samp{-d} option is used, the catchpoint is
30409 created in a disabled state. The @samp{regexp} argument is a regular
30410 expression used to match the name of the unloaded library.
30412 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30414 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch unload}.
30416 @subsubheading Example
30419 -catch-unload -d bar.so
30420 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",type="catchpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
30421 what="load of library matching bar.so",catch-type="unload",times="0"@}
30425 @node Ada Exception GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands
30426 @subsection Ada Exception @sc{gdb/mi} Catchpoints
30428 The following @sc{gdb/mi} commands can be used to create catchpoints
30429 that stop the execution when Ada exceptions are being raised.
30431 @subheading The @code{-catch-assert} Command
30432 @findex -catch-assert
30434 @subsubheading Synopsis
30437 -catch-assert [ -c @var{condition}] [ -d ] [ -t ]
30440 Add a catchpoint for failed Ada assertions.
30442 The possible optional parameters for this command are:
30445 @item -c @var{condition}
30446 Make the catchpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
30448 Create a disabled catchpoint.
30450 Create a temporary catchpoint.
30453 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30455 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch assert}.
30457 @subsubheading Example
30461 ^done,bkptno="5",bkpt=@{number="5",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
30462 enabled="y",addr="0x0000000000404888",what="failed Ada assertions",
30463 thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",
30464 original-location="__gnat_debug_raise_assert_failure"@}
30468 @subheading The @code{-catch-exception} Command
30469 @findex -catch-exception
30471 @subsubheading Synopsis
30474 -catch-exception [ -c @var{condition}] [ -d ] [ -e @var{exception-name} ]
30478 Add a catchpoint stopping when Ada exceptions are raised.
30479 By default, the command stops the program when any Ada exception
30480 gets raised. But it is also possible, by using some of the
30481 optional parameters described below, to create more selective
30484 The possible optional parameters for this command are:
30487 @item -c @var{condition}
30488 Make the catchpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
30490 Create a disabled catchpoint.
30491 @item -e @var{exception-name}
30492 Only stop when @var{exception-name} is raised. This option cannot
30493 be used combined with @samp{-u}.
30495 Create a temporary catchpoint.
30497 Stop only when an unhandled exception gets raised. This option
30498 cannot be used combined with @samp{-e}.
30501 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30503 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{catch exception}
30504 and @samp{catch exception unhandled}.
30506 @subsubheading Example
30509 -catch-exception -e Program_Error
30510 ^done,bkptno="4",bkpt=@{number="4",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
30511 enabled="y",addr="0x0000000000404874",
30512 what="`Program_Error' Ada exception", thread-groups=["i1"],
30513 times="0",original-location="__gnat_debug_raise_exception"@}
30517 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30518 @node GDB/MI Program Context
30519 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
30521 @subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
30522 @findex -exec-arguments
30525 @subsubheading Synopsis
30528 -exec-arguments @var{args}
30531 Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
30534 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30536 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
30538 @subsubheading Example
30542 -exec-arguments -v word
30549 @subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
30550 @findex -exec-show-arguments
30552 @subsubheading Synopsis
30555 -exec-show-arguments
30558 Print the arguments of the program.
30560 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30562 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
30564 @subsubheading Example
30569 @subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
30570 @findex -environment-cd
30572 @subsubheading Synopsis
30575 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
30578 Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
30580 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30582 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
30584 @subsubheading Example
30588 -environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
30594 @subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
30595 @findex -environment-directory
30597 @subsubheading Synopsis
30600 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
30603 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
30604 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
30605 search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
30606 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
30608 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
30609 multiple directories in a single command
30610 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
30611 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
30612 If blanks are needed as
30613 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
30614 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
30615 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
30616 character must not be used
30617 in any directory name.
30618 If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
30620 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30622 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
30624 @subsubheading Example
30628 -environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
30629 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
30631 -environment-directory ""
30632 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
30634 -environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
30635 ^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
30637 -environment-directory -r
30638 ^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
30643 @subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
30644 @findex -environment-path
30646 @subsubheading Synopsis
30649 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
30652 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
30653 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
30654 search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
30655 supplied in addition to the
30656 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
30658 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
30659 multiple directories in a single command
30660 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
30661 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
30662 If blanks are needed as
30663 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
30664 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
30665 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
30666 character must not be used
30667 in any directory name.
30668 If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
30671 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30673 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
30675 @subsubheading Example
30680 ^done,path="/usr/bin"
30682 -environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
30683 ^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
30685 -environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
30686 ^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
30691 @subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
30692 @findex -environment-pwd
30694 @subsubheading Synopsis
30700 Show the current working directory.
30702 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30704 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
30706 @subsubheading Example
30711 ^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
30715 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30716 @node GDB/MI Thread Commands
30717 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
30720 @subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
30721 @findex -thread-info
30723 @subsubheading Synopsis
30726 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
30729 Reports information about either a specific thread, if
30730 the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
30731 threads. When printing information about all threads,
30732 also reports the current thread.
30734 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30736 The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
30739 @subsubheading Result
30741 The result is a list of threads. The following attributes are
30742 defined for a given thread:
30746 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
30749 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the thread.
30752 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the thread.
30755 Extra information about the thread, in a target-specific format. This
30759 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using the
30760 @code{thread name} command, then this name is given. Otherwise, if
30761 @value{GDBN} can extract the thread name from the target, then that
30762 name is given. If @value{GDBN} cannot find the thread name, then this
30766 The stack frame currently executing in the thread.
30769 The thread's state. The @samp{state} field may have the following
30774 The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
30778 The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
30784 If @value{GDBN} can find the CPU core on which this thread is running,
30785 then this field is the core identifier. This field is optional.
30789 @subsubheading Example
30794 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
30795 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",
30796 args=[]@},state="running"@},
30797 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
30798 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",
30799 args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
30800 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},
30801 state="running"@}],
30802 current-thread-id="1"
30806 @subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
30807 @findex -thread-list-ids
30809 @subsubheading Synopsis
30815 Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
30816 end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
30818 This command is retained for historical reasons, the
30819 @code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
30821 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30823 Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
30825 @subsubheading Example
30830 ^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
30831 current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
30836 @subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
30837 @findex -thread-select
30839 @subsubheading Synopsis
30842 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
30845 Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
30846 current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
30848 This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
30849 @samp{--thread} option to each command.
30851 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30853 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
30855 @subsubheading Example
30862 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
30863 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
30867 thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
30868 number-of-threads="3"
30871 ^done,new-thread-id="3",
30872 frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
30873 args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
30874 @{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
30878 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30879 @node GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands
30880 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Tasking Commands
30882 @subheading The @code{-ada-task-info} Command
30883 @findex -ada-task-info
30885 @subsubheading Synopsis
30888 -ada-task-info [ @var{task-id} ]
30891 Reports information about either a specific Ada task, if the
30892 @var{task-id} parameter is present, or about all Ada tasks.
30894 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30896 The @samp{info tasks} command prints the same information
30897 about all Ada tasks (@pxref{Ada Tasks}).
30899 @subsubheading Result
30901 The result is a table of Ada tasks. The following columns are
30902 defined for each Ada task:
30906 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
30909 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the Ada task.
30912 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the Ada task.
30915 The identifier of the thread corresponding to the Ada task.
30917 This field should always exist, as Ada tasks are always implemented
30918 on top of a thread. But if @value{GDBN} cannot find this corresponding
30919 thread for any reason, the field is omitted.
30922 This field exists only when the task was created by another task.
30923 In this case, it provides the ID of the parent task.
30926 The base priority of the task.
30929 The current state of the task. For a detailed description of the
30930 possible states, see @ref{Ada Tasks}.
30933 The name of the task.
30937 @subsubheading Example
30941 ^done,tasks=@{nr_rows="3",nr_cols="8",
30942 hdr=[@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr=""@},
30943 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="id",colhdr="ID"@},
30944 @{width="9",alignment="1",col_name="task-id",colhdr="TID"@},
30945 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="thread-id",colhdr=""@},
30946 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="parent-id",colhdr="P-ID"@},
30947 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="priority",colhdr="Pri"@},
30948 @{width="22",alignment="-1",col_name="state",colhdr="State"@},
30949 @{width="1",alignment="2",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@}],
30950 body=[@{current="*",id="1",task-id=" 644010",thread-id="1",priority="48",
30951 state="Child Termination Wait",name="main_task"@}]@}
30955 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30956 @node GDB/MI Program Execution
30957 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
30959 These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
30960 record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
30961 asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
30964 @subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
30965 @findex -exec-continue
30967 @subsubheading Synopsis
30970 -exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
30973 Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
30974 to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the
30975 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until
30976 it reaches a stop event. Stop events may include
30979 breakpoints or watchpoints
30981 signals or exceptions
30983 the end of the process (or its beginning under @samp{--reverse})
30985 the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
30987 In all-stop mode (@pxref{All-Stop
30988 Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads, depending on the
30989 value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. If @samp{--all} is
30990 specified, all threads (in all inferiors) will be resumed. The @samp{--all} option is
30991 ignored in all-stop mode. If the @samp{--thread-group} options is
30992 specified, then all threads in that thread group are resumed.
30994 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30996 The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
30998 @subsubheading Example
31005 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
31006 func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
31012 @subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
31013 @findex -exec-finish
31015 @subsubheading Synopsis
31018 -exec-finish [--reverse]
31021 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
31022 function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
31023 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes the reverse
31024 execution of the inferior program until the point where current
31025 function was called.
31027 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31029 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
31031 @subsubheading Example
31033 Function returning @code{void}.
31040 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
31041 file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
31045 Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
31046 @value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
31053 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
31054 args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
31055 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31056 gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
31061 @subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
31062 @findex -exec-interrupt
31064 @subsubheading Synopsis
31067 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
31070 Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
31071 associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
31072 that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
31073 appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
31074 interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
31076 Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
31077 asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
31078 @samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
31079 reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
31081 In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
31082 All threads (in all inferiors) will be interrupted if the
31083 @samp{--all} option is specified. If the @samp{--thread-group}
31084 option is specified, all threads in that group will be interrupted.
31086 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31088 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
31090 @subsubheading Example
31101 111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
31102 frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
31103 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
31108 ^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
31112 @subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
31115 @subsubheading Synopsis
31118 -exec-jump @var{location}
31121 Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
31122 parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
31123 different forms of @var{location}.
31125 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31127 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
31129 @subsubheading Example
31132 -exec-jump foo.c:10
31133 *running,thread-id="all"
31138 @subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
31141 @subsubheading Synopsis
31144 -exec-next [--reverse]
31147 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
31148 of the next source line is reached.
31150 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
31151 of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous
31152 source line. If you issue this command on the first line of a
31153 function, it will take you back to the caller of that function, to the
31154 source line where the function was called.
31157 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31159 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
31161 @subsubheading Example
31167 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
31172 @subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
31173 @findex -exec-next-instruction
31175 @subsubheading Synopsis
31178 -exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
31181 Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
31182 call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
31183 instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
31186 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
31187 of the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
31188 previously executed instruction was a return from another function,
31189 it will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
31190 (from the current stack frame) is reached.
31192 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31194 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
31196 @subsubheading Example
31200 -exec-next-instruction
31204 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
31205 addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
31210 @subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
31211 @findex -exec-return
31213 @subsubheading Synopsis
31219 Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
31220 Displays the new current frame.
31222 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31224 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
31226 @subsubheading Example
31230 200-break-insert callee4
31231 200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
31232 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
31237 000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
31238 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
31239 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31240 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
31246 111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
31247 args=[@{name="strarg",
31248 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
31249 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31250 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
31255 @subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
31258 @subsubheading Synopsis
31261 -exec-run [ --all | --thread-group N ] [ --start ]
31264 Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
31265 executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
31266 exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
31267 the program has exited exceptionally.
31269 When neither the @samp{--all} nor the @samp{--thread-group} option
31270 is specified, the current inferior is started. If the
31271 @samp{--thread-group} option is specified, it should refer to a thread
31272 group of type @samp{process}, and that thread group will be started.
31273 If the @samp{--all} option is specified, then all inferiors will be started.
31275 Using the @samp{--start} option instructs the debugger to stop
31276 the execution at the start of the inferior's main subprogram,
31277 following the same behavior as the @code{start} command
31278 (@pxref{Starting}).
31280 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31282 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
31284 @subsubheading Examples
31289 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
31294 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
31295 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
31296 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
31301 Program exited normally:
31309 *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
31314 Program exited exceptionally:
31322 *stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
31326 Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
31327 @code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
31331 *stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
31332 signal-meaning="Interrupt"
31336 @c @subheading -exec-signal
31339 @subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
31342 @subsubheading Synopsis
31345 -exec-step [--reverse]
31348 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
31349 of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
31350 function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
31351 function. If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse
31352 execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the
31353 previously executed source line.
31355 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31357 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
31359 @subsubheading Example
31361 Stepping into a function:
31367 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
31368 frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
31369 @{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
31370 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
31380 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
31385 @subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
31386 @findex -exec-step-instruction
31388 @subsubheading Synopsis
31391 -exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
31394 Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
31395 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
31396 inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction.
31397 The output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on
31398 whether we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the
31399 former case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed
31402 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31404 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
31406 @subsubheading Example
31410 -exec-step-instruction
31414 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
31415 frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
31416 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
31418 -exec-step-instruction
31422 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
31423 frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
31424 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
31429 @subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
31430 @findex -exec-until
31432 @subsubheading Synopsis
31435 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
31438 Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
31439 argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
31440 until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
31441 reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
31443 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31445 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
31447 @subsubheading Example
31451 -exec-until recursive2.c:6
31455 *stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
31456 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
31461 @subheading -file-clear
31462 Is this going away????
31465 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31466 @node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
31467 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
31469 @subheading The @code{-enable-frame-filters} Command
31470 @findex -enable-frame-filters
31473 -enable-frame-filters
31476 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based frame filters to affect the output of
31477 the MI commands relating to stack traces. As there is no way to
31478 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
31479 request that this functionality be enabled.
31481 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
31483 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
31484 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
31486 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
31487 @findex -stack-info-frame
31489 @subsubheading Synopsis
31495 Get info on the selected frame.
31497 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31499 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
31500 (without arguments).
31502 @subsubheading Example
31507 ^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
31508 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31509 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
31513 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
31514 @findex -stack-info-depth
31516 @subsubheading Synopsis
31519 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
31522 Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
31523 is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
31525 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31527 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
31529 @subsubheading Example
31531 For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
31538 -stack-info-depth 4
31541 -stack-info-depth 12
31544 -stack-info-depth 11
31547 -stack-info-depth 13
31552 @anchor{-stack-list-arguments}
31553 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
31554 @findex -stack-list-arguments
31556 @subsubheading Synopsis
31559 -stack-list-arguments [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
31560 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
31563 Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
31564 and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
31565 @var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
31566 call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
31567 at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
31568 larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
31569 @var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
31570 which case only existing frames will be returned.
31572 If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
31573 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
31574 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
31575 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
31576 structures and unions. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is
31577 supplied, then Python frame filters will not be executed.
31579 If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, arguments that
31580 are not available are not listed. Partially available arguments
31581 are still displayed, however.
31583 Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
31584 deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
31586 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31588 @value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
31589 @samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
31590 functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
31592 @subsubheading Example
31599 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
31600 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31601 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
31602 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
31603 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31604 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
31605 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
31606 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31607 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
31608 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
31609 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31610 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
31611 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
31612 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
31613 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
31615 -stack-list-arguments 0
31618 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
31619 frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
31620 frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
31621 frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
31622 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
31624 -stack-list-arguments 1
31627 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
31629 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
31630 frame=@{level="2",args=[
31631 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
31632 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
31633 @{frame=@{level="3",args=[
31634 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
31635 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
31636 @{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
31637 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
31639 -stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
31640 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
31642 -stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
31643 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
31644 args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
31645 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
31649 @c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
31652 @anchor{-stack-list-frames}
31653 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
31654 @findex -stack-list-frames
31656 @subsubheading Synopsis
31659 -stack-list-frames [ --no-frame-filters @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
31662 List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
31667 The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
31669 The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
31673 File name of the source file where the function lives.
31674 @item @var{fullname}
31675 The full file name of the source file where the function lives.
31677 Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
31679 The shared library where this function is defined. This is only given
31680 if the frame's function is not known.
31683 If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
31684 whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
31685 levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
31686 are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
31687 an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
31688 frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
31689 actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be
31690 returned. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is supplied, then
31691 Python frame filters will not be executed.
31693 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31695 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
31697 @subsubheading Example
31699 Full stack backtrace:
31705 [frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
31706 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
31707 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31708 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31709 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31710 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31711 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31712 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31713 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31714 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31715 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31716 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31717 frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31718 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31719 frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31720 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31721 frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31722 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31723 frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31724 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31725 frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31726 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31727 frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
31728 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
31732 Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
31736 -stack-list-frames 3 5
31738 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31739 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31740 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31741 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
31742 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31743 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
31747 Show a single frame:
31751 -stack-list-frames 3 3
31753 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
31754 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
31759 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
31760 @findex -stack-list-locals
31761 @anchor{-stack-list-locals}
31763 @subsubheading Synopsis
31766 -stack-list-locals [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
31769 Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
31770 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
31771 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
31772 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
31773 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
31774 structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
31775 display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
31776 other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
31777 more detail. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is supplied, then
31778 Python frame filters will not be executed.
31780 If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, local variables
31781 that are not available are not listed. Partially available local
31782 variables are still displayed, however.
31784 This command is deprecated in favor of the
31785 @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
31787 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31789 @samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
31791 @subsubheading Example
31795 -stack-list-locals 0
31796 ^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
31798 -stack-list-locals --all-values
31799 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
31800 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
31801 -stack-list-locals --simple-values
31802 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
31803 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
31807 @anchor{-stack-list-variables}
31808 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
31809 @findex -stack-list-variables
31811 @subsubheading Synopsis
31814 -stack-list-variables [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
31817 Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
31818 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
31819 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
31820 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
31821 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
31822 structures and unions. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is
31823 supplied, then Python frame filters will not be executed.
31825 If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, local variables
31826 and arguments that are not available are not listed. Partially
31827 available arguments and local variables are still displayed, however.
31829 @subsubheading Example
31833 -stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
31834 ^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
31839 @subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
31840 @findex -stack-select-frame
31842 @subsubheading Synopsis
31845 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
31848 Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
31851 This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
31852 option to every command.
31854 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31856 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
31857 @samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
31859 @subsubheading Example
31863 -stack-select-frame 2
31868 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31869 @node GDB/MI Variable Objects
31870 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
31874 @subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
31876 For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
31877 expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
31878 used by @code{Insight}.
31880 The two main reasons for that are:
31884 It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
31887 It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
31891 The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
31892 slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
31893 describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
31894 hints about their use.
31896 @emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
31897 expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
31898 least, the following operations:
31901 @item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
31902 @item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
31903 @item @code{-stack-list-locals}
31904 @item @code{-stack-select-frame}
31909 @subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
31911 @cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
31913 Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
31914 changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
31915 work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
31916 simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
31917 is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
31918 frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
31919 expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
31920 expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
31921 variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
31922 operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
31923 object, or to change display format.
31925 Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
31926 that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
31927 a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
31928 element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
31929 children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
31930 leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
31931 objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
31932 is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
31933 child will be created.
31935 For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
31936 string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
31937 obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
31938 that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
31939 contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
31941 A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
31942 the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
31943 variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
31944 operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
31945 be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
31946 objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
31947 real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
31948 variables that frontend has created.
31950 The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
31951 might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
31952 and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
31953 relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
31954 to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
31955 visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
31956 called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
31957 implicitly updated.
31959 Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
31960 fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
31961 object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
31962 variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
31963 variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
31964 expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
31965 frame. Consider this example:
31970 struct work_state state;
31977 If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
31978 this function, and we enter the recursive call, the variable
31979 object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
31980 @code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
31981 object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
31983 If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
31984 refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
31985 thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
31986 variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
31987 thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
31988 and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
31990 The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
31991 access this functionality:
31993 @multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
31994 @item @strong{Operation}
31995 @tab @strong{Description}
31997 @item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
31998 @tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
31999 @item @code{-var-create}
32000 @tab create a variable object
32001 @item @code{-var-delete}
32002 @tab delete the variable object and/or its children
32003 @item @code{-var-set-format}
32004 @tab set the display format of this variable
32005 @item @code{-var-show-format}
32006 @tab show the display format of this variable
32007 @item @code{-var-info-num-children}
32008 @tab tells how many children this object has
32009 @item @code{-var-list-children}
32010 @tab return a list of the object's children
32011 @item @code{-var-info-type}
32012 @tab show the type of this variable object
32013 @item @code{-var-info-expression}
32014 @tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
32015 @item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
32016 @tab print full expression that this variable object represents
32017 @item @code{-var-show-attributes}
32018 @tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
32019 @item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
32020 @tab get the value of this variable
32021 @item @code{-var-assign}
32022 @tab set the value of this variable
32023 @item @code{-var-update}
32024 @tab update the variable and its children
32025 @item @code{-var-set-frozen}
32026 @tab set frozeness attribute
32027 @item @code{-var-set-update-range}
32028 @tab set range of children to display on update
32031 In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
32032 how it can be used.
32034 @subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
32036 @subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
32037 @findex -enable-pretty-printing
32040 -enable-pretty-printing
32043 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
32044 MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
32045 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
32046 request that this functionality be enabled.
32048 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
32050 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
32051 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
32053 This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
32054 may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
32056 @subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
32057 @findex -var-create
32059 @subsubheading Synopsis
32062 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
32063 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
32066 This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
32067 a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
32070 The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
32071 referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
32072 system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
32073 unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
32074 The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
32076 The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
32077 specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
32078 frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
32079 object must be created.
32081 @var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
32082 begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
32086 @samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
32089 @samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
32092 @samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
32095 @cindex dynamic varobj
32096 A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
32097 case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
32098 have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
32099 @code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
32100 will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
32101 compatibility for existing clients.
32103 @subsubheading Result
32105 This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
32110 The name of the varobj.
32113 The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
32114 reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
32115 @samp{has_more} attribute.
32118 The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
32119 aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
32120 will not be interesting.
32123 The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
32124 would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI. If @samp{print object}
32125 (@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
32126 @emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
32127 @emph{declared} one.
32130 If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
32131 thread's identifier.
32134 For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
32135 children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
32138 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
32139 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
32140 then this attribute will not be present.
32143 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
32144 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
32145 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
32148 Typical output will look like this:
32151 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
32152 has_more="@var{has_more}"
32156 @subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
32157 @findex -var-delete
32159 @subsubheading Synopsis
32162 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
32165 Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
32166 With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
32168 Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
32171 @subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
32172 @findex -var-set-format
32174 @subsubheading Synopsis
32177 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
32180 Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
32183 @anchor{-var-set-format}
32184 The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
32187 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
32188 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
32191 The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
32192 based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
32193 for pointers, etc.).
32195 For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
32196 variable itself, and the children are not affected.
32198 @subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
32199 @findex -var-show-format
32201 @subsubheading Synopsis
32204 -var-show-format @var{name}
32207 Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
32210 @var{format} @expansion{}
32215 @subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
32216 @findex -var-info-num-children
32218 @subsubheading Synopsis
32221 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
32224 Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
32230 Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
32231 It will return the current number of children, but more children may
32235 @subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
32236 @findex -var-list-children
32238 @subsubheading Synopsis
32241 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
32243 @anchor{-var-list-children}
32245 Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
32246 create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
32247 a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value of 0 or
32248 @code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
32249 @var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
32250 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
32251 value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
32254 @var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
32255 to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
32256 reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
32257 at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
32260 If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
32261 @code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
32262 For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
32263 intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
32264 update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
32265 front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
32266 then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
32267 different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
32270 For each child the following results are returned:
32275 Name of the variable object created for this child.
32278 The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
32279 For example this may be the name of a structure member.
32281 For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
32282 expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
32284 For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
32285 designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
32286 @samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
32287 type and value are not present.
32289 A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
32290 pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
32291 available at all with a dynamic varobj.
32294 Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
32298 The type of the child. If @samp{print object}
32299 (@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
32300 @emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
32301 @emph{declared} one.
32304 If values were requested, this is the value.
32307 If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the thread id.
32308 Otherwise this result is not present.
32311 If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
32314 The result may have its own attributes:
32318 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
32319 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
32320 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
32323 This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
32324 remaining after the end of the selected range.
32327 @subsubheading Example
32331 -var-list-children n
32332 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
32333 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
32335 -var-list-children --all-values n
32336 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
32337 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
32341 @subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
32342 @findex -var-info-type
32344 @subsubheading Synopsis
32347 -var-info-type @var{name}
32350 Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
32351 returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
32355 type=@var{typename}
32359 @subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
32360 @findex -var-info-expression
32362 @subsubheading Synopsis
32365 -var-info-expression @var{name}
32368 Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
32369 variable object in user interface. The string is generally
32370 not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
32372 For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
32373 @code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
32376 (gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
32377 ^done,lang="C",exp="1"
32381 Here, the values of @code{lang} can be @code{@{"C" | "C++" | "Java"@}}.
32383 Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
32384 includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
32387 @subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
32388 @findex -var-info-path-expression
32390 @subsubheading Synopsis
32393 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
32396 Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
32397 context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
32398 Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
32399 result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
32400 the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
32401 watchpoint from a variable object.
32403 This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
32404 and will give an error when invoked on one.
32406 For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
32407 @code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
32408 @code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
32409 @code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
32410 @code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
32412 (gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
32413 ^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
32416 @subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
32417 @findex -var-show-attributes
32419 @subsubheading Synopsis
32422 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
32425 List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
32428 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
32432 where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
32434 @subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
32435 @findex -var-evaluate-expression
32437 @subsubheading Synopsis
32440 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
32443 Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
32444 object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
32445 can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
32446 this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
32447 (@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
32448 the current display format will be used. The current display format
32449 can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
32455 Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
32456 before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
32458 @subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
32459 @findex -var-assign
32461 @subsubheading Synopsis
32464 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
32467 Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
32468 by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
32469 value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
32470 subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
32472 @subsubheading Example
32480 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
32484 @subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
32485 @findex -var-update
32487 @subsubheading Synopsis
32490 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
32493 Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
32494 @var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
32495 list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
32496 be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
32497 @code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
32498 @code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
32499 object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
32500 for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
32501 @var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
32502 names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
32503 as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
32504 recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
32505 number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
32507 With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
32508 currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
32511 If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
32512 only the selected range of children will be reported.
32514 @code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
32517 Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
32521 The name of the varobj.
32524 If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
32525 present and will hold the value of the varobj.
32528 @anchor{-var-update}
32529 This field is a string which may take one of three values:
32533 The variable object's current value is valid.
32536 The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
32537 hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
32541 The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
32542 This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
32543 either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
32544 command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
32548 In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
32549 be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
32552 This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
32553 changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
32556 When a varobj's type changes, its children are also likely to have
32557 become incorrect. Therefore, the varobj's children are automatically
32558 deleted when this attribute is @samp{true}. Also, the varobj's update
32559 range, when set using the @code{-var-set-update-range} command, is
32563 If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
32566 @item new_num_children
32567 For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
32568 type changed, this will be the new number of children.
32570 The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
32571 valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
32572 @value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
32573 instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
32574 children which may be available.
32576 The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
32577 number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
32578 detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
32579 only happen at the end of the update range).
32582 The display hint, if any.
32585 This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
32586 available outside the varobj's update range.
32589 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
32590 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
32591 then this attribute will not be present.
32594 If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
32595 update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
32596 be listed in this attribute.
32599 @subsubheading Example
32606 -var-update --all-values var1
32607 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
32608 type_changed="false"@}]
32612 @subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
32613 @findex -var-set-frozen
32614 @anchor{-var-set-frozen}
32616 @subsubheading Synopsis
32619 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
32622 Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
32623 @var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
32624 frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
32625 frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
32626 implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
32627 a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
32628 @code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
32629 values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
32630 implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
32631 Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
32632 @code{-var-update} does.
32634 @subsubheading Example
32638 -var-set-frozen V 1
32643 @subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
32644 @findex -var-set-update-range
32645 @anchor{-var-set-update-range}
32647 @subsubheading Synopsis
32650 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
32653 Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
32654 @code{-var-update}.
32656 @var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
32657 @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
32658 children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
32659 (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
32661 @subsubheading Example
32665 -var-set-update-range V 1 2
32669 @subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
32670 @findex -var-set-visualizer
32671 @anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
32673 @subsubheading Synopsis
32676 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
32679 Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
32681 @var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
32682 @samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
32684 If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
32685 This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
32686 single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
32687 the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
32688 Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
32689 When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
32690 pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
32692 The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
32693 select a visualizer by following the built-in process
32694 (@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
32695 a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
32697 This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
32698 command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands})
32699 can be used to check this.
32701 @subsubheading Example
32703 Resetting the visualizer:
32707 -var-set-visualizer V None
32711 Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
32715 -var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
32719 Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
32720 can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
32724 -var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
32728 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32729 @node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
32730 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
32732 @cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
32733 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
32734 This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
32735 examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
32737 @c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
32738 @c @subheading -data-assign
32739 @c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
32740 @c @subsubheading GDB Command
32742 @c @subsubheading Example
32745 @subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
32746 @findex -data-disassemble
32748 @subsubheading Synopsis
32752 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
32753 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
32761 @item @var{start-addr}
32762 is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
32763 @item @var{end-addr}
32765 @item @var{filename}
32766 is the name of the file to disassemble
32767 @item @var{linenum}
32768 is the line number to disassemble around
32770 is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
32771 the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
32772 specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
32773 @var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
32774 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
32775 displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
32776 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
32779 is either 0 (meaning only disassembly), 1 (meaning mixed source and
32780 disassembly), 2 (meaning disassembly with raw opcodes), or 3 (meaning
32781 mixed source and disassembly with raw opcodes).
32784 @subsubheading Result
32786 The result of the @code{-data-disassemble} command will be a list named
32787 @samp{asm_insns}, the contents of this list depend on the @var{mode}
32788 used with the @code{-data-disassemble} command.
32790 For modes 0 and 2 the @samp{asm_insns} list contains tuples with the
32795 The address at which this instruction was disassembled.
32798 The name of the function this instruction is within.
32801 The decimal offset in bytes from the start of @samp{func-name}.
32804 The text disassembly for this @samp{address}.
32807 This field is only present for mode 2. This contains the raw opcode
32808 bytes for the @samp{inst} field.
32812 For modes 1 and 3 the @samp{asm_insns} list contains tuples named
32813 @samp{src_and_asm_line}, each of which has the following fields:
32817 The line number within @samp{file}.
32820 The file name from the compilation unit. This might be an absolute
32821 file name or a relative file name depending on the compile command
32825 Absolute file name of @samp{file}. It is converted to a canonical form
32826 using the source file search path
32827 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories})
32828 and after resolving all the symbolic links.
32830 If the source file is not found this field will contain the path as
32831 present in the debug information.
32833 @item line_asm_insn
32834 This is a list of tuples containing the disassembly for @samp{line} in
32835 @samp{file}. The fields of each tuple are the same as for
32836 @code{-data-disassemble} in @var{mode} 0 and 2, so @samp{address},
32837 @samp{func-name}, @samp{offset}, @samp{inst}, and optionally
32842 Note that whatever included in the @samp{inst} field, is not
32843 manipulated directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to
32846 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32848 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disassemble}.
32850 @subsubheading Example
32852 Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
32856 -data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
32859 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
32860 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
32861 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
32862 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
32863 @{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
32864 inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
32865 @{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
32866 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
32867 @{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
32868 inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
32872 Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
32876 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
32878 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
32879 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
32880 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
32881 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
32882 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
32883 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
32885 @{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
32886 @{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
32890 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
32894 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
32896 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
32897 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
32898 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
32899 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
32900 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
32901 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
32905 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
32909 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
32911 src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
32912 file="../../../src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
32913 fullname="/absolute/path/to/src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
32914 line_asm_insn=[@{address="0x000107bc",
32915 func-name="main",offset="0",inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
32916 src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
32917 file="../../../src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
32918 fullname="/absolute/path/to/src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
32919 line_asm_insn=[@{address="0x000107c0",
32920 func-name="main",offset="4",inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
32921 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
32922 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
32927 @subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
32928 @findex -data-evaluate-expression
32930 @subsubheading Synopsis
32933 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
32936 Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
32937 inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
32938 If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
32940 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32942 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
32943 @samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
32944 @samp{gdb_eval} command.
32946 @subsubheading Example
32948 In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
32949 @dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
32950 Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
32954 211-data-evaluate-expression A
32957 311-data-evaluate-expression &A
32958 311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
32960 411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
32963 511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
32969 @subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
32970 @findex -data-list-changed-registers
32972 @subsubheading Synopsis
32975 -data-list-changed-registers
32978 Display a list of the registers that have changed.
32980 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32982 @value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
32983 has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
32985 @subsubheading Example
32987 On a PPC MBX board:
32995 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
32996 func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
32999 -data-list-changed-registers
33000 ^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
33001 "10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
33002 "24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
33007 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
33008 @findex -data-list-register-names
33010 @subsubheading Synopsis
33013 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
33016 Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
33017 are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
33018 integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
33019 names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
33020 consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
33021 include empty register names.
33023 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33025 @value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
33026 @samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
33027 corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
33029 @subsubheading Example
33031 For the PPC MBX board:
33034 -data-list-register-names
33035 ^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
33036 "r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
33037 "r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
33038 "r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
33039 "f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
33040 "f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
33041 "", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
33043 -data-list-register-names 1 2 3
33044 ^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
33048 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
33049 @findex -data-list-register-values
33051 @subsubheading Synopsis
33054 -data-list-register-values
33055 [ @code{--skip-unavailable} ] @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
33058 Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
33059 which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
33060 list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
33061 numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be
33062 returned. The @code{--skip-unavailable} option indicates that only
33063 the available registers are to be returned.
33065 Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
33082 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33084 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
33085 all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
33087 @subsubheading Example
33089 For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
33090 don't appear in the actual output):
33094 -data-list-register-values r 64 65
33095 ^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
33096 @{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
33098 -data-list-register-values x
33099 ^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
33100 @{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
33101 @{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
33102 @{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
33103 @{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
33104 @{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
33105 @{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
33106 @{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
33107 @{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
33108 @{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
33109 @{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
33110 @{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
33111 @{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
33112 @{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
33113 @{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
33114 @{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
33115 @{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
33116 @{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
33117 @{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
33118 @{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
33119 @{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
33120 @{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
33121 @{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
33122 @{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
33123 @{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
33124 @{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
33125 @{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
33126 @{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
33127 @{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
33128 @{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
33129 @{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
33130 @{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
33131 @{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
33132 @{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
33133 @{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
33134 @{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
33139 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
33140 @findex -data-read-memory
33142 This command is deprecated, use @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} instead.
33144 @subsubheading Synopsis
33147 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
33148 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
33149 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
33156 @item @var{address}
33157 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
33158 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
33159 quoted using the C convention.
33161 @item @var{word-format}
33162 The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
33163 same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
33166 @item @var{word-size}
33167 The size of each memory word in bytes.
33169 @item @var{nr-rows}
33170 The number of rows in the output table.
33172 @item @var{nr-cols}
33173 The number of columns in the output table.
33176 If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
33177 value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
33178 member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
33179 characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
33181 @item @var{byte-offset}
33182 An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
33185 This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
33186 @var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
33187 @code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
33188 (returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
33189 of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
33190 using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
33191 in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
33194 The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
33195 @samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
33198 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33200 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
33201 @samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
33203 @subsubheading Example
33205 Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
33206 @code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
33207 word. Display each word in hex.
33211 9-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
33212 9^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
33213 next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
33214 prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
33215 @{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
33216 @{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
33217 @{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
33221 Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
33222 display as a single word formatted in decimal.
33226 5-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
33227 5^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
33228 next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
33229 next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
33230 @{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
33234 Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
33235 as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
33236 used as the non-printable character.
33240 4-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
33241 4^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
33242 next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
33243 next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
33244 @{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
33245 @{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
33246 @{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
33247 @{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
33248 @{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
33249 @{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
33250 @{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
33251 @{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
33255 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} Command
33256 @findex -data-read-memory-bytes
33258 @subsubheading Synopsis
33261 -data-read-memory-bytes [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
33262 @var{address} @var{count}
33269 @item @var{address}
33270 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
33271 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
33272 quoted using the C convention.
33275 The number of bytes to read. This should be an integer literal.
33277 @item @var{byte-offset}
33278 The offsets in bytes relative to @var{address} at which to start
33279 reading. This should be an integer literal. This option is provided
33280 so that a frontend is not required to first evaluate address and then
33281 perform address arithmetics itself.
33285 This command attempts to read all accessible memory regions in the
33286 specified range. First, all regions marked as unreadable in the memory
33287 map (if one is defined) will be skipped. @xref{Memory Region
33288 Attributes}. Second, @value{GDBN} will attempt to read the remaining
33289 regions. For each one, if reading full region results in an errors,
33290 @value{GDBN} will try to read a subset of the region.
33292 In general, every single byte in the region may be readable or not,
33293 and the only way to read every readable byte is to try a read at
33294 every address, which is not practical. Therefore, @value{GDBN} will
33295 attempt to read all accessible bytes at either beginning or the end
33296 of the region, using a binary division scheme. This heuristic works
33297 well for reading accross a memory map boundary. Note that if a region
33298 has a readable range that is neither at the beginning or the end,
33299 @value{GDBN} will not read it.
33301 The result record (@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}) that is output of
33302 the command includes a field named @samp{memory} whose content is a
33303 list of tuples. Each tuple represent a successfully read memory block
33304 and has the following fields:
33308 The start address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
33311 The end address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
33314 The offset of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal, relative to
33315 the start address passed to @code{-data-read-memory-bytes}.
33318 The contents of the memory block, in hex.
33324 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33326 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}.
33328 @subsubheading Example
33332 -data-read-memory-bytes &a 10
33333 ^done,memory=[@{begin="0xbffff154",offset="0x00000000",
33335 contents="01000000020000000300"@}]
33340 @subheading The @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} Command
33341 @findex -data-write-memory-bytes
33343 @subsubheading Synopsis
33346 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents}
33347 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents} @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
33354 @item @var{address}
33355 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
33356 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
33357 quoted using the C convention.
33359 @item @var{contents}
33360 The hex-encoded bytes to write.
33363 Optional argument indicating the number of bytes to be written. If @var{count}
33364 is greater than @var{contents}' length, @value{GDBN} will repeatedly
33365 write @var{contents} until it fills @var{count} bytes.
33369 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33371 There's no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
33373 @subsubheading Example
33377 -data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd"
33384 -data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd" 16e
33389 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
33390 @node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
33391 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
33393 The commands defined in this section implement MI support for
33394 tracepoints. For detailed introduction, see @ref{Tracepoints}.
33396 @subheading The @code{-trace-find} Command
33397 @findex -trace-find
33399 @subsubheading Synopsis
33402 -trace-find @var{mode} [@var{parameters}@dots{}]
33405 Find a trace frame using criteria defined by @var{mode} and
33406 @var{parameters}. The following table lists permissible
33407 modes and their parameters. For details of operation, see @ref{tfind}.
33412 No parameters are required. Stops examining trace frames.
33415 An integer is required as parameter. Selects tracepoint frame with
33418 @item tracepoint-number
33419 An integer is required as parameter. Finds next
33420 trace frame that corresponds to tracepoint with the specified number.
33423 An address is required as parameter. Finds
33424 next trace frame that corresponds to any tracepoint at the specified
33427 @item pc-inside-range
33428 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds next trace
33429 frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address inside the
33430 specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
33432 @item pc-outside-range
33433 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds
33434 next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address outside
33435 the specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
33438 Line specification is required as parameter. @xref{Specify Location}.
33439 Finds next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at
33440 the specified location.
33444 If @samp{none} was passed as @var{mode}, the response does not
33445 have fields. Otherwise, the response may have the following fields:
33449 This field has either @samp{0} or @samp{1} as the value, depending
33450 on whether a matching tracepoint was found.
33453 The index of the found traceframe. This field is present iff
33454 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
33457 The index of the found tracepoint. This field is present iff
33458 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
33461 The information about the frame corresponding to the found trace
33462 frame. This field is present only if a trace frame was found.
33463 @xref{GDB/MI Frame Information}, for description of this field.
33467 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33469 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tfind}.
33471 @subheading -trace-define-variable
33472 @findex -trace-define-variable
33474 @subsubheading Synopsis
33477 -trace-define-variable @var{name} [ @var{value} ]
33480 Create trace variable @var{name} if it does not exist. If
33481 @var{value} is specified, sets the initial value of the specified
33482 trace variable to that value. Note that the @var{name} should start
33483 with the @samp{$} character.
33485 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33487 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariable}.
33489 @subheading The @code{-trace-frame-collected} Command
33490 @findex -trace-frame-collected
33492 @subsubheading Synopsis
33495 -trace-frame-collected
33496 [--var-print-values @var{var_pval}]
33497 [--comp-print-values @var{comp_pval}]
33498 [--registers-format @var{regformat}]
33499 [--memory-contents]
33502 This command returns the set of collected objects, register names,
33503 trace state variable names, memory ranges and computed expressions
33504 that have been collected at a particular trace frame. The optional
33505 parameters to the command affect the output format in different ways.
33506 See the output description table below for more details.
33508 The reported names can be used in the normal manner to create
33509 varobjs and inspect the objects themselves. The items returned by
33510 this command are categorized so that it is clear which is a variable,
33511 which is a register, which is a trace state variable, which is a
33512 memory range and which is a computed expression.
33514 For instance, if the actions were
33516 collect myVar, myArray[myIndex], myObj.field, myPtr->field, myCount + 2
33517 collect *(int*)0xaf02bef0@@40
33521 the object collected in its entirety would be @code{myVar}. The
33522 object @code{myArray} would be partially collected, because only the
33523 element at index @code{myIndex} would be collected. The remaining
33524 objects would be computed expressions.
33526 An example output would be:
33530 -trace-frame-collected
33532 explicit-variables=[@{name="myVar",value="1"@}],
33533 computed-expressions=[@{name="myArray[myIndex]",value="0"@},
33534 @{name="myObj.field",value="0"@},
33535 @{name="myPtr->field",value="1"@},
33536 @{name="myCount + 2",value="3"@},
33537 @{name="$tvar1 + 1",value="43970027"@}],
33538 registers=[@{number="0",value="0x7fe2c6e79ec8"@},
33539 @{number="1",value="0x0"@},
33540 @{number="2",value="0x4"@},
33542 @{number="125",value="0x0"@}],
33543 tvars=[@{name="$tvar1",current="43970026"@}],
33544 memory=[@{address="0x0000000000602264",length="4"@},
33545 @{address="0x0000000000615bc0",length="4"@}]
33552 @item explicit-variables
33553 The set of objects that have been collected in their entirety (as
33554 opposed to collecting just a few elements of an array or a few struct
33555 members). For each object, its name and value are printed.
33556 The @code{--var-print-values} option affects how or whether the value
33557 field is output. If @var{var_pval} is 0, then print only the names;
33558 if it is 1, print also their values; and if it is 2, print the name,
33559 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for
33560 arrays, structures and unions.
33562 @item computed-expressions
33563 The set of computed expressions that have been collected at the
33564 current trace frame. The @code{--comp-print-values} option affects
33565 this set like the @code{--var-print-values} option affects the
33566 @code{explicit-variables} set. See above.
33569 The registers that have been collected at the current trace frame.
33570 For each register collected, the name and current value are returned.
33571 The value is formatted according to the @code{--registers-format}
33572 option. See the @command{-data-list-register-values} command for a
33573 list of the allowed formats. The default is @samp{x}.
33576 The trace state variables that have been collected at the current
33577 trace frame. For each trace state variable collected, the name and
33578 current value are returned.
33581 The set of memory ranges that have been collected at the current trace
33582 frame. Its content is a list of tuples. Each tuple represents a
33583 collected memory range and has the following fields:
33587 The start address of the memory range, as hexadecimal literal.
33590 The length of the memory range, as decimal literal.
33593 The contents of the memory block, in hex. This field is only present
33594 if the @code{--memory-contents} option is specified.
33600 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33602 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
33604 @subsubheading Example
33606 @subheading -trace-list-variables
33607 @findex -trace-list-variables
33609 @subsubheading Synopsis
33612 -trace-list-variables
33615 Return a table of all defined trace variables. Each element of the
33616 table has the following fields:
33620 The name of the trace variable. This field is always present.
33623 The initial value. This is a 64-bit signed integer. This
33624 field is always present.
33627 The value the trace variable has at the moment. This is a 64-bit
33628 signed integer. This field is absent iff current value is
33629 not defined, for example if the trace was never run, or is
33634 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33636 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariables}.
33638 @subsubheading Example
33642 -trace-list-variables
33643 ^done,trace-variables=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="3",
33644 hdr=[@{width="15",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
33645 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="initial",colhdr="Initial"@},
33646 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr="Current"@}],
33647 body=[variable=@{name="$trace_timestamp",initial="0"@}
33648 variable=@{name="$foo",initial="10",current="15"@}]@}
33652 @subheading -trace-save
33653 @findex -trace-save
33655 @subsubheading Synopsis
33658 -trace-save [-r ] @var{filename}
33661 Saves the collected trace data to @var{filename}. Without the
33662 @samp{-r} option, the data is downloaded from the target and saved
33663 in a local file. With the @samp{-r} option the target is asked
33664 to perform the save.
33666 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33668 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tsave}.
33671 @subheading -trace-start
33672 @findex -trace-start
33674 @subsubheading Synopsis
33680 Starts a tracing experiments. The result of this command does not
33683 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33685 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstart}.
33687 @subheading -trace-status
33688 @findex -trace-status
33690 @subsubheading Synopsis
33696 Obtains the status of a tracing experiment. The result may include
33697 the following fields:
33702 May have a value of either @samp{0}, when no tracing operations are
33703 supported, @samp{1}, when all tracing operations are supported, or
33704 @samp{file} when examining trace file. In the latter case, examining
33705 of trace frame is possible but new tracing experiement cannot be
33706 started. This field is always present.
33709 May have a value of either @samp{0} or @samp{1} depending on whether
33710 tracing experiement is in progress on target. This field is present
33711 if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
33714 Report the reason why the tracing was stopped last time. This field
33715 may be absent iff tracing was never stopped on target yet. The
33716 value of @samp{request} means the tracing was stopped as result of
33717 the @code{-trace-stop} command. The value of @samp{overflow} means
33718 the tracing buffer is full. The value of @samp{disconnection} means
33719 tracing was automatically stopped when @value{GDBN} has disconnected.
33720 The value of @samp{passcount} means tracing was stopped when a
33721 tracepoint was passed a maximal number of times for that tracepoint.
33722 This field is present if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
33724 @item stopping-tracepoint
33725 The number of tracepoint whose passcount as exceeded. This field is
33726 present iff the @samp{stop-reason} field has the value of
33730 @itemx frames-created
33731 The @samp{frames} field is a count of the total number of trace frames
33732 in the trace buffer, while @samp{frames-created} is the total created
33733 during the run, including ones that were discarded, such as when a
33734 circular trace buffer filled up. Both fields are optional.
33738 These fields tell the current size of the tracing buffer and the
33739 remaining space. These fields are optional.
33742 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
33743 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
33744 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
33748 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
33749 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
33750 that the trace run will stop.
33753 The filename of the trace file being examined. This field is
33754 optional, and only present when examining a trace file.
33758 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33760 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstatus}.
33762 @subheading -trace-stop
33763 @findex -trace-stop
33765 @subsubheading Synopsis
33771 Stops a tracing experiment. The result of this command has the same
33772 fields as @code{-trace-status}, except that the @samp{supported} and
33773 @samp{running} fields are not output.
33775 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33777 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstop}.
33780 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
33781 @node GDB/MI Symbol Query
33782 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
33786 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
33787 @findex -symbol-info-address
33789 @subsubheading Synopsis
33792 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
33795 Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
33797 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33799 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
33801 @subsubheading Example
33805 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
33806 @findex -symbol-info-file
33808 @subsubheading Synopsis
33814 Show the file for the symbol.
33816 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33818 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
33819 @samp{gdb_find_file}.
33821 @subsubheading Example
33825 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
33826 @findex -symbol-info-function
33828 @subsubheading Synopsis
33831 -symbol-info-function
33834 Show which function the symbol lives in.
33836 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33838 @samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
33840 @subsubheading Example
33844 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
33845 @findex -symbol-info-line
33847 @subsubheading Synopsis
33853 Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
33855 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33857 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
33858 @code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
33860 @subsubheading Example
33864 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
33865 @findex -symbol-info-symbol
33867 @subsubheading Synopsis
33870 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
33873 Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
33875 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33877 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
33879 @subsubheading Example
33883 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
33884 @findex -symbol-list-functions
33886 @subsubheading Synopsis
33889 -symbol-list-functions
33892 List the functions in the executable.
33894 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33896 @samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
33897 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
33899 @subsubheading Example
33904 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
33905 @findex -symbol-list-lines
33907 @subsubheading Synopsis
33910 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
33913 Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
33914 addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
33915 ascending PC order.
33917 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33919 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
33921 @subsubheading Example
33924 -symbol-list-lines basics.c
33925 ^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
33931 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
33932 @findex -symbol-list-types
33934 @subsubheading Synopsis
33940 List all the type names.
33942 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33944 The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
33945 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
33947 @subsubheading Example
33951 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
33952 @findex -symbol-list-variables
33954 @subsubheading Synopsis
33957 -symbol-list-variables
33960 List all the global and static variable names.
33962 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33964 @samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
33966 @subsubheading Example
33970 @subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
33971 @findex -symbol-locate
33973 @subsubheading Synopsis
33979 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
33981 @samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
33983 @subsubheading Example
33987 @subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
33988 @findex -symbol-type
33990 @subsubheading Synopsis
33993 -symbol-type @var{variable}
33996 Show type of @var{variable}.
33998 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34000 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
34001 @samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
34003 @subsubheading Example
34008 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34009 @node GDB/MI File Commands
34010 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
34012 This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
34013 and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
34015 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
34016 @findex -file-exec-and-symbols
34018 @subsubheading Synopsis
34021 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
34024 Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
34025 which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
34026 command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
34027 are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
34028 error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
34031 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34033 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
34035 @subsubheading Example
34039 -file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
34045 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
34046 @findex -file-exec-file
34048 @subsubheading Synopsis
34051 -file-exec-file @var{file}
34054 Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
34055 @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
34056 from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
34057 about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
34060 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34062 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
34064 @subsubheading Example
34068 -file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
34075 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
34076 @findex -file-list-exec-sections
34078 @subsubheading Synopsis
34081 -file-list-exec-sections
34084 List the sections of the current executable file.
34086 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34088 The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
34089 information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
34090 @samp{gdb_load_info}.
34092 @subsubheading Example
34097 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
34098 @findex -file-list-exec-source-file
34100 @subsubheading Synopsis
34103 -file-list-exec-source-file
34106 List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
34107 to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
34108 information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
34109 whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
34111 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34113 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
34115 @subsubheading Example
34119 123-file-list-exec-source-file
34120 123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
34125 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
34126 @findex -file-list-exec-source-files
34128 @subsubheading Synopsis
34131 -file-list-exec-source-files
34134 List the source files for the current executable.
34136 It will always output both the filename and fullname (absolute file
34137 name) of a source file.
34139 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34141 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
34142 @code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
34144 @subsubheading Example
34147 -file-list-exec-source-files
34149 @{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
34150 @{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
34151 @{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
34156 @subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
34157 @findex -file-list-shared-libraries
34159 @subsubheading Synopsis
34162 -file-list-shared-libraries
34165 List the shared libraries in the program.
34167 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34169 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
34171 @subsubheading Example
34175 @subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
34176 @findex -file-list-symbol-files
34178 @subsubheading Synopsis
34181 -file-list-symbol-files
34186 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34188 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
34190 @subsubheading Example
34195 @subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
34196 @findex -file-symbol-file
34198 @subsubheading Synopsis
34201 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
34204 Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
34205 used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
34206 produced, except for a completion notification.
34208 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34210 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
34212 @subsubheading Example
34216 -file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
34222 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34223 @node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
34224 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
34226 The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
34228 @c @subheading -overlay-auto
34230 @c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
34232 @c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
34234 @c @subheading -overlay-map
34236 @c @subheading -overlay-off
34238 @c @subheading -overlay-on
34240 @c @subheading -overlay-unmap
34242 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34243 @node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
34244 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
34246 Signal handling commands are not implemented.
34248 @c @subheading -signal-handle
34250 @c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
34252 @c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
34256 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34257 @node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
34258 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
34261 @subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
34262 @findex -target-attach
34264 @subsubheading Synopsis
34267 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
34270 Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
34271 @value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
34272 group, the id previously returned by
34273 @samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
34275 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34277 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
34279 @subsubheading Example
34283 =thread-created,id="1"
34284 *stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
34290 @subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
34291 @findex -target-compare-sections
34293 @subsubheading Synopsis
34296 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
34299 Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
34300 Without the argument, all sections are compared.
34302 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34304 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
34306 @subsubheading Example
34311 @subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
34312 @findex -target-detach
34314 @subsubheading Synopsis
34317 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
34320 Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
34321 If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
34322 the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
34324 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34326 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
34328 @subsubheading Example
34338 @subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
34339 @findex -target-disconnect
34341 @subsubheading Synopsis
34347 Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
34348 generally not resumed.
34350 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34352 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
34354 @subsubheading Example
34364 @subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
34365 @findex -target-download
34367 @subsubheading Synopsis
34373 Loads the executable onto the remote target.
34374 It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
34378 The name of the section.
34380 The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
34382 The size of the section.
34384 The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
34386 The size of the overall executable to download.
34390 Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
34391 @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
34393 In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
34394 downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
34398 The name of the section.
34400 The size of the section.
34402 The size of the overall executable to download.
34406 At the end, a summary is printed.
34408 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34410 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
34412 @subsubheading Example
34414 Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
34415 have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
34420 +download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
34421 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
34422 total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
34423 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
34424 total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
34425 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
34426 total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
34427 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
34428 total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
34429 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
34430 total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
34431 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
34432 total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
34433 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
34434 total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
34435 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
34436 total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
34437 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
34438 total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
34439 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
34440 total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
34441 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
34442 total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
34443 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
34444 total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
34445 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
34446 total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
34447 +download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
34448 +download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
34449 +download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
34450 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
34451 total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
34452 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
34453 total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
34454 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
34455 total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
34456 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
34457 total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
34458 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
34459 total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
34460 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
34461 total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
34462 ^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
34469 @subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
34470 @findex -target-exec-status
34472 @subsubheading Synopsis
34475 -target-exec-status
34478 Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
34479 not, for instance).
34481 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34483 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
34485 @subsubheading Example
34489 @subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
34490 @findex -target-list-available-targets
34492 @subsubheading Synopsis
34495 -target-list-available-targets
34498 List the possible targets to connect to.
34500 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34502 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
34504 @subsubheading Example
34508 @subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
34509 @findex -target-list-current-targets
34511 @subsubheading Synopsis
34514 -target-list-current-targets
34517 Describe the current target.
34519 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34521 The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
34524 @subsubheading Example
34528 @subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
34529 @findex -target-list-parameters
34531 @subsubheading Synopsis
34534 -target-list-parameters
34540 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34544 @subsubheading Example
34548 @subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
34549 @findex -target-select
34551 @subsubheading Synopsis
34554 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
34557 Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
34561 The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
34562 @item @var{parameters}
34563 Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
34564 Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
34567 The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
34568 which the target program is, in the following form:
34571 ^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
34572 args=[@var{arg list}]
34575 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34577 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
34579 @subsubheading Example
34583 -target-select remote /dev/ttya
34584 ^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
34588 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34589 @node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
34590 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
34593 @subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
34594 @findex -target-file-put
34596 @subsubheading Synopsis
34599 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
34602 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
34603 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
34605 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34607 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
34609 @subsubheading Example
34613 -target-file-put localfile remotefile
34619 @subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
34620 @findex -target-file-get
34622 @subsubheading Synopsis
34625 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
34628 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
34629 on the host system.
34631 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34633 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
34635 @subsubheading Example
34639 -target-file-get remotefile localfile
34645 @subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
34646 @findex -target-file-delete
34648 @subsubheading Synopsis
34651 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
34654 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
34656 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34658 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
34660 @subsubheading Example
34664 -target-file-delete remotefile
34670 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
34671 @node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
34672 @section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
34674 @c @subheading -gdb-complete
34676 @subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
34679 @subsubheading Synopsis
34685 Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
34687 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34689 Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
34691 @subsubheading Example
34701 @subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
34702 @findex -exec-abort
34704 @subsubheading Synopsis
34710 Kill the inferior running program.
34712 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34714 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
34716 @subsubheading Example
34721 @subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
34724 @subsubheading Synopsis
34730 Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
34731 @c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
34733 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34735 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
34737 @subsubheading Example
34747 @subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
34750 @subsubheading Synopsis
34756 Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
34758 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34760 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
34762 @subsubheading Example
34771 @c @subheading -gdb-source
34774 @subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
34775 @findex -gdb-version
34777 @subsubheading Synopsis
34783 Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
34785 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
34787 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
34788 default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
34790 @subsubheading Example
34792 @c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
34798 ~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
34799 ~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
34800 ~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
34801 ~ certain conditions.
34802 ~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
34803 ~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
34805 ~This GDB was configured as
34806 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
34811 @subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
34812 @findex -list-features
34814 Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
34815 this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
34816 or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
34817 important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
34818 of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
34821 The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
34822 available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
34823 have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
34829 (gdb) -list-features
34830 ^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
34833 The current list of features is:
34836 @item frozen-varobjs
34837 Indicates support for the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
34838 as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
34839 of @code{-varobj-create}.
34840 @item pending-breakpoints
34841 Indicates support for the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert}
34844 Indicates Python scripting support, Python-based
34845 pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
34846 @samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
34848 Indicates support for the @code{-thread-info} command.
34849 @item data-read-memory-bytes
34850 Indicates support for the @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} and the
34851 @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} commands.
34852 @item breakpoint-notifications
34853 Indicates that changes to breakpoints and breakpoints created via the
34854 CLI will be announced via async records.
34855 @item ada-task-info
34856 Indicates support for the @code{-ada-task-info} command.
34859 @subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
34860 @findex -list-target-features
34862 Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
34863 target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
34864 unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
34865 features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
34866 a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
34867 @code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
34868 may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
34872 (gdb) -list-target-features
34873 ^done,result=["async"]
34876 The current list of features is:
34880 Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
34881 execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
34882 while the target is running.
34885 Indicates that the target is capable of reverse execution.
34886 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
34890 @subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
34891 @findex -list-thread-groups
34893 @subheading Synopsis
34896 -list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ @var{group} ... ]
34899 Lists thread groups (@pxref{Thread groups}). When a single thread
34900 group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
34901 When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
34902 thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
34903 top-level thread groups.
34905 Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported.
34906 With the @samp{--available} option, @value{GDBN} reports thread groups
34907 available on the target.
34909 The output of this command may have either a @samp{threads} result or
34910 a @samp{groups} result. The @samp{thread} result has a list of tuples
34911 as value, with each tuple describing a thread (@pxref{GDB/MI Thread
34912 Information}). The @samp{groups} result has a list of tuples as value,
34913 each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
34914 requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups
34915 are passed, the output always has a @samp{groups} result. The format
34916 of the @samp{group} result is described below.
34918 To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread groups
34919 together with their children, by passing the @samp{--recurse} option
34920 and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
34921 permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
34922 will also include its children, either as @samp{group} or
34923 @samp{threads} field.
34925 In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted, with
34926 the following caveats:
34930 When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically
34931 be the @samp{threads} result. Because threads may not contain
34932 anything, the @samp{recurse} option will be ignored.
34935 When the @samp{--available} option is passed, limited information may
34936 be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process might
34937 be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups might
34938 not give any performance advantage over listing all thread groups.
34939 The frontend should assume that @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}
34940 is always an expensive operation and cache the results.
34944 The @samp{groups} result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may
34945 have the following fields:
34949 Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
34950 The identifier is an opaque string; frontends should not try to
34951 convert it to an integer, even though it might look like one.
34954 The type of the thread group. At present, only @samp{process} is a
34958 The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
34959 for thread groups of type @samp{process} and only if the process exists.
34962 The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
34963 absent for an available thread group.
34966 This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
34967 thread. It may be present if the @samp{--recurse} option is
34968 specified, and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
34971 This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
34972 thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
34973 such information is not available.
34976 The name of the executable file that corresponds to this thread group.
34977 The field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process},
34978 and only if there is a corresponding executable file.
34982 @subheading Example
34986 -list-thread-groups
34987 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
34988 -list-thread-groups 17
34989 ^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
34990 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
34991 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
34992 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
34993 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
34994 -list-thread-groups --available
34995 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]@}]
34996 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
34997 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
34998 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
34999 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},..]
35000 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
35001 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
35002 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
35003 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},...]
35006 @subheading The @code{-info-os} Command
35009 @subsubheading Synopsis
35012 -info-os [ @var{type} ]
35015 If no argument is supplied, the command returns a table of available
35016 operating-system-specific information types. If one of these types is
35017 supplied as an argument @var{type}, then the command returns a table
35018 of data of that type.
35020 The types of information available depend on the target operating
35023 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
35025 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info os}.
35027 @subsubheading Example
35029 When run on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, the output will look something
35035 ^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="9",nr_cols="3",
35036 hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="Type"@},
35037 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="Description"@},
35038 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col2",colhdr="Title"@}],
35039 body=[item=@{col0="processes",col1="Listing of all processes",
35040 col2="Processes"@},
35041 item=@{col0="procgroups",col1="Listing of all process groups",
35042 col2="Process groups"@},
35043 item=@{col0="threads",col1="Listing of all threads",
35045 item=@{col0="files",col1="Listing of all file descriptors",
35046 col2="File descriptors"@},
35047 item=@{col0="sockets",col1="Listing of all internet-domain sockets",
35049 item=@{col0="shm",col1="Listing of all shared-memory regions",
35050 col2="Shared-memory regions"@},
35051 item=@{col0="semaphores",col1="Listing of all semaphores",
35052 col2="Semaphores"@},
35053 item=@{col0="msg",col1="Listing of all message queues",
35054 col2="Message queues"@},
35055 item=@{col0="modules",col1="Listing of all loaded kernel modules",
35056 col2="Kernel modules"@}]@}
35059 ^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="190",nr_cols="4",
35060 hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="pid"@},
35061 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="user"@},
35062 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col2",colhdr="command"@},
35063 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col3",colhdr="cores"@}],
35064 body=[item=@{col0="1",col1="root",col2="/sbin/init",col3="0"@},
35065 item=@{col0="2",col1="root",col2="[kthreadd]",col3="1"@},
35066 item=@{col0="3",col1="root",col2="[ksoftirqd/0]",col3="0"@},
35068 item=@{col0="26446",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="0"@},
35069 item=@{col0="28152",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="1"@}]@}
35073 (Note that the MI output here includes a @code{"Title"} column that
35074 does not appear in command-line @code{info os}; this column is useful
35075 for MI clients that want to enumerate the types of data, such as in a
35076 popup menu, but is needless clutter on the command line, and
35077 @code{info os} omits it.)
35079 @subheading The @code{-add-inferior} Command
35080 @findex -add-inferior
35082 @subheading Synopsis
35088 Creates a new inferior (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). The created
35089 inferior is not associated with any executable. Such association may
35090 be established with the @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols} command
35091 (@pxref{GDB/MI File Commands}). The command response has a single
35092 field, @samp{inferior}, whose value is the identifier of the
35093 thread group corresponding to the new inferior.
35095 @subheading Example
35100 ^done,inferior="i3"
35103 @subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
35104 @findex -interpreter-exec
35106 @subheading Synopsis
35109 -interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
35111 @anchor{-interpreter-exec}
35113 Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
35115 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
35117 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
35119 @subheading Example
35123 -interpreter-exec console "break main"
35124 &"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
35125 &"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
35126 ~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
35131 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
35132 @findex -inferior-tty-set
35134 @subheading Synopsis
35137 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
35140 Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
35142 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
35144 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
35146 @subheading Example
35150 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
35155 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
35156 @findex -inferior-tty-show
35158 @subheading Synopsis
35164 Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
35166 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
35168 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
35170 @subheading Example
35174 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
35178 ^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
35182 @subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
35183 @findex -enable-timings
35185 @subheading Synopsis
35188 -enable-timings [yes | no]
35191 Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
35192 command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
35193 developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
35194 equivalent to @samp{yes}.
35196 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
35200 @subheading Example
35208 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
35209 addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
35210 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",thread-groups=["i1"],
35212 time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
35220 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
35221 frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
35222 @{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
35223 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
35228 @chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
35230 This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
35231 designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
35232 similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
35233 relatively high level.
35235 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
35239 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
35243 * Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
35244 * Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
35245 * Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
35246 * Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
35247 * Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
35248 * Annotations for Running::
35249 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
35250 * Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
35253 @node Annotations Overview
35254 @section What is an Annotation?
35255 @cindex annotations
35257 Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
35258 characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
35259 information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
35260 is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
35261 information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
35262 additional information, and a newline. The additional information
35263 cannot contain newline characters.
35265 Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
35266 characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
35267 no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
35268 @samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
35269 annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
35270 means those three characters as output.
35272 The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
35273 @option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
35274 how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
35275 values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
35276 is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
35277 subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
35278 for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
35279 been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
35280 Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
35283 @kindex set annotate
35284 @item set annotate @var{level}
35285 The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
35286 annotations to the specified @var{level}.
35288 @item show annotate
35289 @kindex show annotate
35290 Show the current annotation level.
35293 This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
35295 A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
35298 $ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
35300 Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
35301 GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
35302 and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
35303 under certain conditions.
35304 Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
35305 There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
35307 This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
35318 Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
35319 @value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
35320 denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
35321 output from @value{GDBN}.
35323 @node Server Prefix
35324 @section The Server Prefix
35325 @cindex server prefix
35327 If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
35328 the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
35329 command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
35330 means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
35331 a transparent manner.
35333 The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
35334 the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
35335 value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
35336 @code{print} command.
35338 Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
35339 (@pxref{confirmation requests}).
35342 @section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
35344 @cindex annotations for prompts
35345 When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
35346 to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
35349 Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
35350 input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
35351 denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
35352 annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
35353 annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
35354 associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
35355 features the following annotations:
35363 The input types are
35366 @findex pre-prompt annotation
35367 @findex prompt annotation
35368 @findex post-prompt annotation
35370 When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
35372 @findex pre-commands annotation
35373 @findex commands annotation
35374 @findex post-commands annotation
35376 When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
35377 command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
35379 @findex pre-overload-choice annotation
35380 @findex overload-choice annotation
35381 @findex post-overload-choice annotation
35382 @item overload-choice
35383 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
35385 @findex pre-query annotation
35386 @findex query annotation
35387 @findex post-query annotation
35389 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
35391 @findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
35392 @findex prompt-for-continue annotation
35393 @findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
35394 @item prompt-for-continue
35395 When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
35396 expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
35397 prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
35398 presence of annotations.
35403 @cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
35405 @findex quit annotation
35410 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
35412 @findex error annotation
35417 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
35419 Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
35420 in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
35421 @code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
35422 cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
35423 cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
35424 does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
35427 @findex error-begin annotation
35428 A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
35434 Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
35437 Warning messages are not yet annotated.
35438 @c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
35439 @c range_error(), and possibly other places.
35442 @section Invalidation Notices
35444 @cindex annotations for invalidation messages
35445 The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
35449 @findex frames-invalid annotation
35450 @item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
35452 The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
35455 @findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
35456 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
35458 The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
35459 deleted a breakpoint.
35462 @node Annotations for Running
35463 @section Running the Program
35464 @cindex annotations for running programs
35466 @findex starting annotation
35467 @findex stopping annotation
35468 When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
35469 @code{step} or @code{continue},
35475 is output. When the program stops,
35481 is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
35482 annotations describe how the program stopped.
35485 @findex exited annotation
35486 @item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
35487 The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
35488 successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
35490 @findex signalled annotation
35491 @findex signal-name annotation
35492 @findex signal-name-end annotation
35493 @findex signal-string annotation
35494 @findex signal-string-end annotation
35495 @item ^Z^Zsignalled
35496 The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
35497 annotation continues:
35503 ^Z^Zsignal-name-end
35507 ^Z^Zsignal-string-end
35512 where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
35513 @code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
35514 as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
35515 @var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
35516 user's benefit and have no particular format.
35518 @findex signal annotation
35520 The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
35521 just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
35522 terminated with it.
35524 @findex breakpoint annotation
35525 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
35526 The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
35528 @findex watchpoint annotation
35529 @item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
35530 The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
35533 @node Source Annotations
35534 @section Displaying Source
35535 @cindex annotations for source display
35537 @findex source annotation
35538 The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
35541 ^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
35544 where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
35545 file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
35546 first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
35547 within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
35548 debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
35549 @var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
35550 line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
35551 @var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
35552 source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
35553 followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
35554 depend on the language).
35556 @node JIT Interface
35557 @chapter JIT Compilation Interface
35558 @cindex just-in-time compilation
35559 @cindex JIT compilation interface
35561 This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
35562 interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
35563 executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
35564 performance while maintaining platform independence.
35566 Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
35567 portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
35568 object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
35569 and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
35570 @value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
35571 symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
35573 If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
35574 it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
35575 you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
35576 of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
35579 Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
35580 JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
35581 variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
35582 attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
35583 find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
35584 out about additional code.
35587 * Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
35588 * Registering Code:: Steps to register code
35589 * Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
35590 * Custom Debug Info:: Emit debug information in a custom format
35594 @section JIT Declarations
35596 These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
35597 implement the interface:
35607 struct jit_code_entry
35609 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
35610 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
35611 const char *symfile_addr;
35612 uint64_t symfile_size;
35615 struct jit_descriptor
35618 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
35619 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
35620 uint32_t action_flag;
35621 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
35622 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
35625 /* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
35626 void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
35628 /* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
35629 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
35630 struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
35633 If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
35634 modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
35635 a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
35637 @node Registering Code
35638 @section Registering Code
35640 To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
35644 Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
35645 information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
35648 Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
35652 Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
35655 Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
35658 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
35659 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
35662 When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
35663 @code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
35664 new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
35665 @value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
35667 @node Unregistering Code
35668 @section Unregistering Code
35670 If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
35674 Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
35677 Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
35680 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
35681 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
35684 If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
35685 and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
35687 @node Custom Debug Info
35688 @section Custom Debug Info
35689 @cindex custom JIT debug info
35690 @cindex JIT debug info reader
35692 Generating debug information in platform-native file formats (like ELF
35693 or COFF) may be an overkill for JIT compilers; especially if all the
35694 debug info is used for is displaying a meaningful backtrace. The
35695 issue can be resolved by having the JIT writers decide on a debug info
35696 format and also provide a reader that parses the debug info generated
35697 by the JIT compiler. This section gives a brief overview on writing
35698 such a parser. More specific details can be found in the source file
35699 @file{gdb/jit-reader.in}, which is also installed as a header at
35700 @file{@var{includedir}/gdb/jit-reader.h} for easy inclusion.
35702 The reader is implemented as a shared object (so this functionality is
35703 not available on platforms which don't allow loading shared objects at
35704 runtime). Two @value{GDBN} commands, @code{jit-reader-load} and
35705 @code{jit-reader-unload} are provided, to be used to load and unload
35706 the readers from a preconfigured directory. Once loaded, the shared
35707 object is used the parse the debug information emitted by the JIT
35711 * Using JIT Debug Info Readers:: How to use supplied readers correctly
35712 * Writing JIT Debug Info Readers:: Creating a debug-info reader
35715 @node Using JIT Debug Info Readers
35716 @subsection Using JIT Debug Info Readers
35717 @kindex jit-reader-load
35718 @kindex jit-reader-unload
35720 Readers can be loaded and unloaded using the @code{jit-reader-load}
35721 and @code{jit-reader-unload} commands.
35724 @item jit-reader-load @var{reader}
35725 Load the JIT reader named @var{reader}. @var{reader} is a shared
35726 object specified as either an absolute or a relative file name. In
35727 the latter case, @value{GDBN} will try to load the reader from a
35728 pre-configured directory, usually @file{@var{libdir}/gdb/} on a UNIX
35729 system (here @var{libdir} is the system library directory, often
35730 @file{/usr/local/lib}).
35732 Only one reader can be active at a time; trying to load a second
35733 reader when one is already loaded will result in @value{GDBN}
35734 reporting an error. A new JIT reader can be loaded by first unloading
35735 the current one using @code{jit-reader-unload} and then invoking
35736 @code{jit-reader-load}.
35738 @item jit-reader-unload
35739 Unload the currently loaded JIT reader.
35743 @node Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
35744 @subsection Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
35745 @cindex writing JIT debug info readers
35747 As mentioned, a reader is essentially a shared object conforming to a
35748 certain ABI. This ABI is described in @file{jit-reader.h}.
35750 @file{jit-reader.h} defines the structures, macros and functions
35751 required to write a reader. It is installed (along with
35752 @value{GDBN}), in @file{@var{includedir}/gdb} where @var{includedir} is
35753 the system include directory.
35755 Readers need to be released under a GPL compatible license. A reader
35756 can be declared as released under such a license by placing the macro
35757 @code{GDB_DECLARE_GPL_COMPATIBLE_READER} in a source file.
35759 The entry point for readers is the symbol @code{gdb_init_reader},
35760 which is expected to be a function with the prototype
35762 @findex gdb_init_reader
35764 extern struct gdb_reader_funcs *gdb_init_reader (void);
35767 @cindex @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs}
35769 @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs} contains a set of pointers to callback
35770 functions. These functions are executed to read the debug info
35771 generated by the JIT compiler (@code{read}), to unwind stack frames
35772 (@code{unwind}) and to create canonical frame IDs
35773 (@code{get_Frame_id}). It also has a callback that is called when the
35774 reader is being unloaded (@code{destroy}). The struct looks like this
35777 struct gdb_reader_funcs
35779 /* Must be set to GDB_READER_INTERFACE_VERSION. */
35780 int reader_version;
35782 /* For use by the reader. */
35785 gdb_read_debug_info *read;
35786 gdb_unwind_frame *unwind;
35787 gdb_get_frame_id *get_frame_id;
35788 gdb_destroy_reader *destroy;
35792 @cindex @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks}
35793 @cindex @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}
35795 The callbacks are provided with another set of callbacks by
35796 @value{GDBN} to do their job. For @code{read}, these callbacks are
35797 passed in a @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} and for @code{unwind}
35798 and @code{get_frame_id}, in a @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}.
35799 @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} has callbacks to create new object
35800 files and new symbol tables inside those object files. @code{struct
35801 gdb_unwind_callbacks} has callbacks to read registers off the current
35802 frame and to write out the values of the registers in the previous
35803 frame. Both have a callback (@code{target_read}) to read bytes off the
35804 target's address space.
35806 @node In-Process Agent
35807 @chapter In-Process Agent
35808 @cindex debugging agent
35809 The traditional debugging model is conceptually low-speed, but works fine,
35810 because most bugs can be reproduced in debugging-mode execution. However,
35811 as multi-core or many-core processors are becoming mainstream, and
35812 multi-threaded programs become more and more popular, there should be more
35813 and more bugs that only manifest themselves at normal-mode execution, for
35814 example, thread races, because debugger's interference with the program's
35815 timing may conceal the bugs. On the other hand, in some applications,
35816 it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt the program's execution
35817 long enough for the developer to learn anything helpful about its behavior.
35818 If the program's correctness depends on its real-time behavior, delays
35819 introduced by a debugger might cause the program to fail, even when the
35820 code itself is correct. It is useful to be able to observe the program's
35821 behavior without interrupting it.
35823 Therefore, traditional debugging model is too intrusive to reproduce
35824 some bugs. In order to reduce the interference with the program, we can
35825 reduce the number of operations performed by debugger. The
35826 @dfn{In-Process Agent}, a shared library, is running within the same
35827 process with inferior, and is able to perform some debugging operations
35828 itself. As a result, debugger is only involved when necessary, and
35829 performance of debugging can be improved accordingly. Note that
35830 interference with program can be reduced but can't be removed completely,
35831 because the in-process agent will still stop or slow down the program.
35833 The in-process agent can interpret and execute Agent Expressions
35834 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}) during performing debugging operations. The
35835 agent expressions can be used for different purposes, such as collecting
35836 data in tracepoints, and condition evaluation in breakpoints.
35838 @anchor{Control Agent}
35839 You can control whether the in-process agent is used as an aid for
35840 debugging with the following commands:
35843 @kindex set agent on
35845 Causes the in-process agent to perform some operations on behalf of the
35846 debugger. Just which operations requested by the user will be done
35847 by the in-process agent depends on the its capabilities. For example,
35848 if you request to evaluate breakpoint conditions in the in-process agent,
35849 and the in-process agent has such capability as well, then breakpoint
35850 conditions will be evaluated in the in-process agent.
35852 @kindex set agent off
35853 @item set agent off
35854 Disables execution of debugging operations by the in-process agent. All
35855 of the operations will be performed by @value{GDBN}.
35859 Display the current setting of execution of debugging operations by
35860 the in-process agent.
35864 * In-Process Agent Protocol::
35867 @node In-Process Agent Protocol
35868 @section In-Process Agent Protocol
35869 @cindex in-process agent protocol
35871 The in-process agent is able to communicate with both @value{GDBN} and
35872 GDBserver (@pxref{In-Process Agent}). This section documents the protocol
35873 used for communications between @value{GDBN} or GDBserver and the IPA.
35874 In general, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver sends commands
35875 (@pxref{IPA Protocol Commands}) and data to in-process agent, and then
35876 in-process agent replies back with the return result of the command, or
35877 some other information. The data sent to in-process agent is composed
35878 of primitive data types, such as 4-byte or 8-byte type, and composite
35879 types, which are called objects (@pxref{IPA Protocol Objects}).
35882 * IPA Protocol Objects::
35883 * IPA Protocol Commands::
35886 @node IPA Protocol Objects
35887 @subsection IPA Protocol Objects
35888 @cindex ipa protocol objects
35890 The commands sent to and results received from agent may contain some
35891 complex data types called @dfn{objects}.
35893 The in-process agent is running on the same machine with @value{GDBN}
35894 or GDBserver, so it doesn't have to handle as much differences between
35895 two ends as remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}) tries to handle.
35896 However, there are still some differences of two ends in two processes:
35900 word size. On some 64-bit machines, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver can be
35901 compiled as a 64-bit executable, while in-process agent is a 32-bit one.
35903 ABI. Some machines may have multiple types of ABI, @value{GDBN} or
35904 GDBserver is compiled with one, and in-process agent is compiled with
35908 Here are the IPA Protocol Objects:
35912 agent expression object. It represents an agent expression
35913 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}).
35914 @anchor{agent expression object}
35916 tracepoint action object. It represents a tracepoint action
35917 (@pxref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}) to collect registers,
35918 memory, static trace data and to evaluate expression.
35919 @anchor{tracepoint action object}
35921 tracepoint object. It represents a tracepoint (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
35922 @anchor{tracepoint object}
35926 The following table describes important attributes of each IPA protocol
35929 @multitable @columnfractions .30 .20 .50
35930 @headitem Name @tab Size @tab Description
35931 @item @emph{agent expression object} @tab @tab
35932 @item length @tab 4 @tab length of bytes code
35933 @item byte code @tab @var{length} @tab contents of byte code
35934 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting memory} @tab @tab
35935 @item 'M' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
35936 @item addr @tab 8 @tab if @var{basereg} is @samp{-1}, @var{addr} is the
35937 address of the lowest byte to collect, otherwise @var{addr} is the offset
35938 of @var{basereg} for memory collecting.
35939 @item len @tab 8 @tab length of memory for collecting
35940 @item basereg @tab 4 @tab the register number containing the starting
35941 memory address for collecting.
35942 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting registers} @tab @tab
35943 @item 'R' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
35944 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting static trace data} @tab @tab
35945 @item 'L' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
35946 @item @emph{tracepoint action for expression evaluation} @tab @tab
35947 @item 'X' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
35948 @item agent expression @tab length of @tab @ref{agent expression object}
35949 @item @emph{tracepoint object} @tab @tab
35950 @item number @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint
35951 @item address @tab 8 @tab address of tracepoint inserted on
35952 @item type @tab 4 @tab type of tracepoint
35953 @item enabled @tab 1 @tab enable or disable of tracepoint
35954 @item step_count @tab 8 @tab step
35955 @item pass_count @tab 8 @tab pass
35956 @item numactions @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint actions
35957 @item hit count @tab 8 @tab hit count
35958 @item trace frame usage @tab 8 @tab trace frame usage
35959 @item compiled_cond @tab 8 @tab compiled condition
35960 @item orig_size @tab 8 @tab orig size
35961 @item condition @tab 4 if condition is NULL otherwise length of
35962 @ref{agent expression object}
35963 @tab zero if condition is NULL, otherwise is
35964 @ref{agent expression object}
35965 @item actions @tab variable
35966 @tab numactions number of @ref{tracepoint action object}
35969 @node IPA Protocol Commands
35970 @subsection IPA Protocol Commands
35971 @cindex ipa protocol commands
35973 The spaces in each command are delimiters to ease reading this commands
35974 specification. They don't exist in real commands.
35978 @item FastTrace:@var{tracepoint_object} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}
35979 Installs a new fast tracepoint described by @var{tracepoint_object}
35980 (@pxref{tracepoint object}). @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}, 8-byte long, is the
35981 head of @dfn{jumppad}, which is used to jump to data collection routine
35986 @item OK @var{target_address} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} @var{fjump_size} @var{fjump}
35987 @var{target_address} is address of tracepoint in the inferior.
35988 @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} is updated head of jumppad. Both of
35989 @var{target_address} and @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} are 8-byte long.
35990 @var{fjump} contains a sequence of instructions jump to jumppad entry.
35991 @var{fjump_size}, 4-byte long, is the size of @var{fjump}.
35998 Closes the in-process agent. This command is sent when @value{GDBN} or GDBserver
35999 is about to kill inferiors.
36007 @item probe_marker_at:@var{address}
36008 Asks in-process agent to probe the marker at @var{address}.
36015 @item unprobe_marker_at:@var{address}
36016 Asks in-process agent to unprobe the marker at @var{address}.
36020 @chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
36021 @cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
36022 @cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
36024 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
36026 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
36027 may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
36028 the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
36029 reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
36031 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
36032 information that enables us to fix the bug.
36035 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
36036 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
36040 @section Have You Found a Bug?
36041 @cindex bug criteria
36043 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
36046 @cindex fatal signal
36047 @cindex debugger crash
36048 @cindex crash of debugger
36050 If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
36051 @value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
36053 @cindex error on valid input
36055 If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
36056 bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
36057 somewhere in the connection to the target.)
36059 @cindex invalid input
36061 If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
36062 that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
36063 ``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
36064 for traditional practice''.
36067 If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
36068 for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
36071 @node Bug Reporting
36072 @section How to Report Bugs
36073 @cindex bug reports
36074 @cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
36076 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
36077 If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
36078 contact that organization first.
36080 You can find contact information for many support companies and
36081 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
36083 @c should add a web page ref...
36086 @ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
36087 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
36088 @value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
36089 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
36090 page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
36093 @strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
36094 @samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
36095 not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
36098 The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
36099 serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
36100 the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
36101 newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
36102 problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
36103 path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
36104 we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
36105 bug reports to the mailing list.
36107 @ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
36108 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
36109 @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
36113 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
36114 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
36115 fact or leave it out, state it!
36117 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
36118 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
36119 assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
36120 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
36121 stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
36122 name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
36123 of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
36124 the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
36125 easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
36127 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
36128 bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
36129 you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
36132 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
36133 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
36134 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
36137 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
36141 The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
36142 with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
36145 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
36146 the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
36149 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
36153 The details of the @value{GDBN} build-time configuration.
36154 @value{GDBN} shows these details if you invoke it with the
36155 @option{--configuration} command-line option, or if you type
36156 @code{show configuration} at @value{GDBN}'s prompt.
36159 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
36160 ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
36163 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
36164 debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
36165 C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
36166 to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
36170 The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
36171 observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
36172 you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
36173 Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
36175 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
36176 and then we might not encounter the bug.
36179 A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
36183 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
36184 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
36186 Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
36187 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
36188 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
36189 a chance to make a mistake.
36191 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
36192 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
36193 copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
36194 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
36195 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
36196 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
36197 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
36198 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
36201 @cindex recording a session script
36202 To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
36203 such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
36204 Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
36205 include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
36207 Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
36208 inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
36211 If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
36212 diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
36213 it by context, not by line number.
36215 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
36216 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
36220 Here are some things that are not necessary:
36224 A description of the envelope of the bug.
36226 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
36227 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
36228 changes will not affect it.
36230 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
36231 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
36232 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
36233 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
36235 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
36236 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
36237 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
36238 less time, and so on.
36240 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
36241 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
36244 A patch for the bug.
36246 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
36247 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
36248 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
36249 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
36251 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
36252 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
36253 through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
36254 to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
36256 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
36257 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
36258 help us to understand.
36261 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
36263 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
36264 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
36267 @c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
36268 @c and consists of the two following files:
36271 @c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
36272 @c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
36273 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
36274 @include rluser.texi
36275 @include hsuser.texi
36279 @appendix In Memoriam
36281 The @value{GDBN} project mourns the loss of the following long-time
36286 Fred was a long-standing contributor to @value{GDBN} (1991-2006), and
36287 to Free Software in general. Outside of @value{GDBN}, he was known in
36288 the Amiga world for his series of Fish Disks, and the GeekGadget project.
36290 @item Michael Snyder
36291 Michael was one of the Global Maintainers of the @value{GDBN} project,
36292 with contributions recorded as early as 1996, until 2011. In addition
36293 to his day to day participation, he was a large driving force behind
36294 adding Reverse Debugging to @value{GDBN}.
36297 Beyond their technical contributions to the project, they were also
36298 enjoyable members of the Free Software Community. We will miss them.
36300 @node Formatting Documentation
36301 @appendix Formatting Documentation
36303 @cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
36304 @cindex reference card
36305 The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
36306 for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
36307 subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
36308 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
36309 release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
36310 you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
36312 The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
36313 can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
36319 The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
36320 mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
36321 that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
36322 high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
36323 your @sc{dvi} output program.
36325 @cindex documentation
36327 All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
36328 distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
36329 a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
36330 on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
36331 formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
36332 and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
36334 @value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
36335 version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
36336 file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
36337 subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
36338 necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
36339 but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
36340 Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
36341 @sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
36343 If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
36344 Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
36347 If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
36348 @value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
36349 version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
36356 If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
36357 a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
36358 Texinfo definitions file.
36360 @TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
36361 produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
36362 document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
36363 has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
36364 command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
36365 (for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
36366 require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
36368 @TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
36369 @file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
36370 written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
36371 typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
36372 and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
36375 If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
36376 typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
36377 subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
36378 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
36384 Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
36386 @node Installing GDB
36387 @appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
36388 @cindex installation
36391 * Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
36392 * Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
36393 * Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
36394 * Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
36395 * Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
36396 * System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
36400 @section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
36401 @cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
36403 Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
36404 Other packages will be used only if they are found.
36406 @heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
36408 @item ISO C90 compiler
36409 @value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
36410 working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
36414 @heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
36418 @value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
36419 included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
36420 can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
36421 The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
36422 standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
36423 use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
36429 Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
36431 Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
36433 Remote shared library lists (@xref{Library List Format},
36434 or alternatively @pxref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets})
36436 MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
36438 Traceframe info (@pxref{Traceframe Info Format})
36440 Branch trace (@pxref{Branch Trace Format})
36444 @cindex compressed debug sections
36445 @value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
36446 compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
36447 of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
36448 is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
36449 information in such binaries.
36451 The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
36452 distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
36453 @url{http://zlib.net}.
36456 @value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
36457 Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
36458 on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
36459 other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
36461 If @value{GDBN} is using the @code{iconv} program which is installed
36462 in a non-standard place, you will need to tell @value{GDBN} where to find it.
36463 This is done with @option{--with-iconv-bin} which specifies the
36464 directory that contains the @code{iconv} program.
36466 On systems without @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
36467 have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
36468 @option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
36470 @value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
36471 arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
36472 in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
36473 if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
36474 implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
36475 by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
36476 Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
36477 Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
36480 @node Running Configure
36481 @section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
36482 @cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
36483 @value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
36484 of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
36485 build the @code{gdb} program.
36487 @c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
36488 @footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
36489 look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
36490 installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
36493 The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
36494 @value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
36495 appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
36497 For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
36498 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
36501 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
36502 script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
36504 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
36505 the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
36507 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
36508 source for the Binary File Descriptor library
36510 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
36511 @sc{gnu} include files
36513 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
36514 source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
36516 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
36517 source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
36519 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
36520 source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
36522 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
36523 source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
36525 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
36526 source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
36529 The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
36530 from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
36531 this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
36533 First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
36534 if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
36535 identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
36541 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
36542 ./configure @var{host}
36547 where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
36548 @samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
36549 (You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
36550 correct value by examining your system.)
36552 Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
36553 @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
36554 libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
36555 binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
36558 @file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
36559 system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
36560 shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
36563 sh configure @var{host}
36566 If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
36567 directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
36568 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
36570 creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
36571 you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
36573 You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
36574 source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
36575 @file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
36576 that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
36577 if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
36578 of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
36579 configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
36580 directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
36581 about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
36583 You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
36584 However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
36585 the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
36586 that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
36587 let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
36589 @node Separate Objdir
36590 @section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
36592 If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
36593 you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
36594 host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
36595 allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
36596 rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
36597 handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
36598 @code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
36599 program specified there.
36601 To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
36602 with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
36603 (You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
36604 itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
36605 would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
36606 the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
36608 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
36609 separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
36613 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
36616 ../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
36621 When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
36622 directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
36623 (and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
36624 the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
36625 directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
36626 @file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
36628 Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
36629 instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
36630 like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
36631 one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
36632 build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
36634 One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
36635 directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
36636 @value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
36637 programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
36638 You specify a cross-debugging target by
36639 giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
36641 When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
36642 it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
36643 called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
36645 The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
36646 directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
36647 directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
36648 directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
36649 will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
36651 When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
36652 directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
36653 if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
36657 @section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
36659 The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
36660 script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
36661 aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
36662 of information in the following pattern:
36665 @var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
36668 For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
36669 or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
36670 option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
36672 The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
36673 any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
36674 aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
36675 @code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
36676 script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
36677 abbreviations---for example:
36680 % sh config.sub i386-linux
36682 % sh config.sub alpha-linux
36683 alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
36684 % sh config.sub hp9k700
36686 % sh config.sub sun4
36687 sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
36688 % sh config.sub sun3
36689 m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
36690 % sh config.sub i986v
36691 Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
36695 @code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
36696 directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
36698 @node Configure Options
36699 @section @file{configure} Options
36701 Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
36702 are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
36703 several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
36704 Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
36707 configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
36708 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
36709 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
36710 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
36711 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
36712 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
36717 You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
36718 @samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
36723 Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
36725 @item --prefix=@var{dir}
36726 Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
36729 @item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
36730 Configure the source to install programs under directory
36733 @c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
36735 @item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
36736 @strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
36737 @code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
36738 Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
36739 @value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
36740 build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
36741 directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
36742 the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
36743 directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
36744 the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
36747 @item --norecursion
36748 Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
36749 propagate configuration to subdirectories.
36751 @item --target=@var{target}
36752 Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
36753 @var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
36754 programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
36756 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
36758 @item @var{host} @dots{}
36759 Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
36761 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
36764 There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
36765 needed for special purposes only.
36767 @node System-wide configuration
36768 @section System-wide configuration and settings
36769 @cindex system-wide init file
36771 @value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
36772 this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
36773 @value{GDBN} does during startup}).
36775 Here is the corresponding configure option:
36778 @item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
36779 Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
36783 If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
36784 it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
36788 If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
36789 it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
36790 are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
36791 if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
36792 init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
36793 @file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
36796 By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
36797 it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
36798 @option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
36799 then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
36800 wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
36803 If the configured location of the system-wide init file (as given by the
36804 @option{--with-system-gdbinit} option at configure time) is in the
36805 data-directory (as specified by @option{--with-gdb-datadir} at configure
36806 time) or in one of its subdirectories, then @value{GDBN} will look for the
36807 system-wide init file in the directory specified by the
36808 @option{--data-directory} command-line option.
36809 Note that the system-wide init file is only read once, during @value{GDBN}
36810 initialization. If the data-directory is changed after @value{GDBN} has
36811 started with the @code{set data-directory} command, the file will not be
36815 * System-wide Configuration Scripts:: Installed System-wide Configuration Scripts
36818 @node System-wide Configuration Scripts
36819 @subsection Installed System-wide Configuration Scripts
36820 @cindex system-wide configuration scripts
36822 The @file{system-gdbinit} directory, located inside the data-directory
36823 (as specified by @option{--with-gdb-datadir} at configure time) contains
36824 a number of scripts which can be used as system-wide init files. To
36825 automatically source those scripts at startup, @value{GDBN} should be
36826 configured with @option{--with-system-gdbinit}. Otherwise, any user
36827 should be able to source them by hand as needed.
36829 The following scripts are currently available:
36832 @item @file{elinos.py}
36834 @cindex ELinOS system-wide configuration script
36835 This script is useful when debugging a program on an ELinOS target.
36836 It takes advantage of the environment variables defined in a standard
36837 ELinOS environment in order to determine the location of the system
36838 shared libraries, and then sets the @samp{solib-absolute-prefix}
36839 and @samp{solib-search-path} variables appropriately.
36841 @item @file{wrs-linux.py}
36842 @pindex wrs-linux.py
36843 @cindex Wind River Linux system-wide configuration script
36844 This script is useful when debugging a program on a target running
36845 Wind River Linux. It expects the @env{ENV_PREFIX} to be set to
36846 the host-side sysroot used by the target system.
36850 @node Maintenance Commands
36851 @appendix Maintenance Commands
36852 @cindex maintenance commands
36853 @cindex internal commands
36855 In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
36856 includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
36857 that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
36858 provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
36859 messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
36862 @kindex maint agent
36863 @kindex maint agent-eval
36864 @item maint agent @r{[}-at @var{location}@r{,}@r{]} @var{expression}
36865 @itemx maint agent-eval @r{[}-at @var{location}@r{,}@r{]} @var{expression}
36866 Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
36867 This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
36868 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
36869 expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
36870 @samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
36871 to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
36872 globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
36873 of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
36874 the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
36875 addition and return the sum.
36876 If @code{-at} is given, generate remote agent bytecode for @var{location}.
36877 If not, generate remote agent bytecode for current frame PC address.
36879 @kindex maint agent-printf
36880 @item maint agent-printf @var{format},@var{expr},...
36881 Translate the given format string and list of argument expressions
36882 into remote agent bytecodes and display them as a disassembled list.
36883 This command is useful for debugging the agent version of dynamic
36884 printf (@pxref{Dynamic Printf}).
36886 @kindex maint info breakpoints
36887 @item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
36888 Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
36889 breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
36890 internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
36891 breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
36896 Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
36899 Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
36902 Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
36903 @code{longjmp} calls.
36905 @item longjmp resume
36906 Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
36909 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
36912 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
36915 Shared library events.
36919 @kindex maint info bfds
36920 @item maint info bfds
36921 This prints information about each @code{bfd} object that is known to
36922 @value{GDBN}. @xref{Top, , BFD, bfd, The Binary File Descriptor Library}.
36924 @kindex set displaced-stepping
36925 @kindex show displaced-stepping
36926 @cindex displaced stepping support
36927 @cindex out-of-line single-stepping
36928 @item set displaced-stepping
36929 @itemx show displaced-stepping
36930 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
36931 if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
36932 over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
36933 an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
36934 breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
36937 @item set displaced-stepping on
36938 If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
36939 displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
36941 @item set displaced-stepping off
36942 @value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
36943 even if such is supported by the target architecture.
36945 @cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
36946 @item set displaced-stepping auto
36947 This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
36948 only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
36949 architecture supports displaced stepping.
36952 @kindex maint check-psymtabs
36953 @item maint check-psymtabs
36954 Check the consistency of currently expanded psymtabs versus symtabs.
36955 Use this to check, for example, whether a symbol is in one but not the other.
36957 @kindex maint check-symtabs
36958 @item maint check-symtabs
36959 Check the consistency of currently expanded symtabs.
36961 @kindex maint expand-symtabs
36962 @item maint expand-symtabs [@var{regexp}]
36963 Expand symbol tables.
36964 If @var{regexp} is specified, only expand symbol tables for file
36965 names matching @var{regexp}.
36967 @kindex maint cplus first_component
36968 @item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
36969 Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
36971 @kindex maint cplus namespace
36972 @item maint cplus namespace
36973 Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
36975 @kindex maint demangle
36976 @item maint demangle @var{name}
36977 Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
36979 @kindex maint deprecate
36980 @kindex maint undeprecate
36981 @cindex deprecated commands
36982 @item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
36983 @itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
36984 Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
36985 cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
36986 argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
36987 favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
36988 the replacement as part of the warning.
36990 @kindex maint dump-me
36991 @item maint dump-me
36992 @cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
36993 Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
36994 This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
36995 with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
36997 @kindex maint internal-error
36998 @kindex maint internal-warning
36999 @item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
37000 @itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
37001 Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
37002 or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
37003 or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
37004 internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
37005 either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
37006 @value{GDBN} session.
37008 These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
37009 used as the text of the error or warning message.
37011 Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
37014 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
37015 @dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
37016 A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
37017 debugging may prove unreliable.
37018 Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
37019 Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
37023 @cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
37024 @cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
37026 @kindex maint set internal-error
37027 @kindex maint show internal-error
37028 @kindex maint set internal-warning
37029 @kindex maint show internal-warning
37030 @item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
37031 @itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
37032 @itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
37033 @itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
37034 When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
37035 gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
37036 core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
37037 override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
37038 described in the table below.
37042 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
37043 quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
37046 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
37047 create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do.
37050 @kindex maint packet
37051 @item maint packet @var{text}
37052 If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
37053 then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
37054 displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
37055 @samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
37058 @kindex maint print architecture
37059 @item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
37060 Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
37061 @var{file} names the file where the output goes.
37063 @kindex maint print c-tdesc
37064 @item maint print c-tdesc
37065 Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
37066 a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
37067 when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
37069 @kindex maint print dummy-frames
37070 @item maint print dummy-frames
37071 Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
37074 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
37076 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
37077 Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
37079 The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
37081 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
37082 0x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
37083 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
37084 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
37088 Takes an optional file parameter.
37090 @kindex maint print registers
37091 @kindex maint print raw-registers
37092 @kindex maint print cooked-registers
37093 @kindex maint print register-groups
37094 @kindex maint print remote-registers
37095 @item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
37096 @itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
37097 @itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
37098 @itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
37099 @itemx maint print remote-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
37100 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
37102 The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
37103 the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print
37104 cooked-registers} includes the (cooked) value of all registers,
37105 including registers which aren't available on the target nor visible
37106 to user; the command @code{maint print register-groups} includes the
37107 groups that each register is a member of; and the command @code{maint
37108 print remote-registers} includes the remote target's register numbers
37109 and offsets in the `G' packets.
37111 These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
37112 write the information.
37114 @kindex maint print reggroups
37115 @item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
37116 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
37117 optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
37120 The register groups info looks like this:
37123 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
37136 This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
37138 @kindex maint print objfiles
37139 @cindex info for known object files
37140 @item maint print objfiles @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
37141 Print a dump of all known object files.
37142 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print object files whose names
37143 match @var{regexp}. For each object file, this command prints its name,
37144 address in memory, and all of its psymtabs and symtabs.
37146 @kindex maint print section-scripts
37147 @cindex info for known .debug_gdb_scripts-loaded scripts
37148 @item maint print section-scripts [@var{regexp}]
37149 Print a dump of scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_section} section.
37150 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print scripts loaded by object files
37151 matching @var{regexp}.
37152 For each script, this command prints its name as specified in the objfile,
37153 and the full path if known.
37154 @xref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}.
37156 @kindex maint print statistics
37157 @cindex bcache statistics
37158 @item maint print statistics
37159 This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
37160 about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
37161 statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
37162 of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
37163 defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
37164 the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
37165 used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
37166 sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
37167 average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
37168 savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
37171 @kindex maint print target-stack
37172 @cindex target stack description
37173 @item maint print target-stack
37174 A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
37175 kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
37176 so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
37177 In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
37178 until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
37181 This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
37182 the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
37184 @kindex maint print type
37185 @cindex type chain of a data type
37186 @item maint print type @var{expr}
37187 Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
37188 can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
37189 that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
37190 a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
37191 data structures, including its flags and contained types.
37193 @kindex maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
37194 @kindex maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
37195 @item maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
37196 @item maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
37197 Control the behavior of @code{info address} when using DWARF debugging
37200 The default is @code{off}, which means that @value{GDBN} should try to
37201 describe a variable's location in an easily readable format. When
37202 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will instead display the DWARF location
37203 expression in an assembly-like format. Note that some locations are
37204 too complex for @value{GDBN} to describe simply; in this case you will
37205 always see the disassembly form.
37207 Here is an example of the resulting disassembly:
37210 (gdb) info addr argc
37211 Symbol "argc" is a complex DWARF expression:
37215 For more information on these expressions, see
37216 @uref{http://www.dwarfstd.org/, the DWARF standard}.
37218 @kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
37219 @kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
37220 @item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
37221 @itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
37222 Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
37224 @cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
37225 In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
37226 produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
37227 reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
37228 This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
37229 cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
37230 compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
37231 memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
37232 slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
37234 @kindex maint set profile
37235 @kindex maint show profile
37236 @cindex profiling GDB
37237 @item maint set profile
37238 @itemx maint show profile
37239 Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
37241 Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
37242 command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
37243 collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
37244 exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
37245 if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
37246 (often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
37247 data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
37249 Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
37250 compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
37252 @kindex maint set show-debug-regs
37253 @kindex maint show show-debug-regs
37254 @cindex hardware debug registers
37255 @item maint set show-debug-regs
37256 @itemx maint show show-debug-regs
37257 Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
37258 registers. Use @code{ON} to enable, @code{OFF} to disable. If
37259 enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
37260 removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
37261 triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
37263 @kindex maint set show-all-tib
37264 @kindex maint show show-all-tib
37265 @item maint set show-all-tib
37266 @itemx maint show show-all-tib
37267 Control whether to show all non zero areas within a 1k block starting
37268 at thread local base, when using the @samp{info w32 thread-information-block}
37271 @kindex maint set per-command
37272 @kindex maint show per-command
37273 @item maint set per-command
37274 @itemx maint show per-command
37275 @cindex resources used by commands
37277 @value{GDBN} can display the resources used by each command.
37278 This is useful in debugging performance problems.
37281 @item maint set per-command space [on|off]
37282 @itemx maint show per-command space
37283 Enable or disable the printing of the memory used by GDB for each command.
37284 If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
37285 took, following the command's own output.
37286 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
37287 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
37289 @item maint set per-command time [on|off]
37290 @itemx maint show per-command time
37291 Enable or disable the printing of the execution time of @value{GDBN}
37293 If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
37294 took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
37295 Both CPU time and wallclock time are printed.
37296 Printing both is useful when trying to determine whether the cost is
37297 CPU or, e.g., disk/network latency.
37298 Note that the CPU time printed is for @value{GDBN} only, it does not include
37299 the execution time of the inferior because there's no mechanism currently
37300 to compute how much time was spent by @value{GDBN} and how much time was
37301 spent by the program been debugged.
37302 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
37303 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
37305 @item maint set per-command symtab [on|off]
37306 @itemx maint show per-command symtab
37307 Enable or disable the printing of basic symbol table statistics
37309 If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display the following information:
37313 number of symbol tables
37315 number of primary symbol tables
37317 number of blocks in the blockvector
37321 @kindex maint space
37322 @cindex memory used by commands
37323 @item maint space @var{value}
37324 An alias for @code{maint set per-command space}.
37325 A non-zero value enables it, zero disables it.
37328 @cindex time of command execution
37329 @item maint time @var{value}
37330 An alias for @code{maint set per-command time}.
37331 A non-zero value enables it, zero disables it.
37333 @kindex maint translate-address
37334 @item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
37335 Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
37336 @var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
37337 @value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
37338 the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
37339 the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
37340 command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
37342 If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
37343 is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
37344 executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
37348 The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
37349 @value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
37352 @item set watchdog @var{nsec}
37353 @kindex set watchdog
37354 @cindex watchdog timer
37355 @cindex timeout for commands
37356 Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
37357 target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
37358 reports and error and the command is aborted.
37360 @item show watchdog
37361 Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
37364 @node Remote Protocol
37365 @appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
37370 * Stop Reply Packets::
37371 * General Query Packets::
37372 * Architecture-Specific Protocol Details::
37373 * Tracepoint Packets::
37374 * Host I/O Packets::
37376 * Notification Packets::
37377 * Remote Non-Stop::
37378 * Packet Acknowledgment::
37380 * File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
37381 * Library List Format::
37382 * Library List Format for SVR4 Targets::
37383 * Memory Map Format::
37384 * Thread List Format::
37385 * Traceframe Info Format::
37386 * Branch Trace Format::
37392 There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
37393 protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
37394 machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
37395 recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
37397 In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
37398 transmitted and received data, respectively.
37400 @cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
37401 @cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
37402 @cindex remote serial protocol
37403 All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
37404 and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
37405 @var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
37406 @samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
37407 @samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
37410 @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
37414 @cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
37416 The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
37417 characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
37418 eight bit unsigned checksum).
37420 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
37421 specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
37424 @code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
37427 @cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
37429 That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
37430 has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
37431 since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
37433 When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
37434 response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
37435 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
37439 -> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
37444 The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
37445 once a connection is established.
37446 @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
37448 The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
37449 debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
37450 the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
37451 when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
37452 threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
37453 behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
37454 execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
37456 @var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
37457 exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
37460 @cindex remote protocol, field separator
37461 Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
37462 @samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
37463 @sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
37465 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
37466 @samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
37467 would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
37469 @cindex remote protocol, binary data
37470 @anchor{Binary Data}
37471 Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
37472 digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
37473 protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
37474 Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
37475 connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
37478 The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
37479 as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
37480 character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
37481 For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
37482 bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
37483 @code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
37484 @samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
37485 must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
37486 is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
37489 Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
37490 Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
37491 instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
37492 repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
37493 binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
37494 @code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
37495 produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
37496 code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
37497 encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
37498 @samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
37499 after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
37502 The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
37503 greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
37504 seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
37505 five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
37508 The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
37509 error number. That number is not well defined.
37511 @cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
37512 For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
37513 (@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
37514 protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
37517 At a minimum, a stub is required to support the @samp{g} and @samp{G}
37518 commands for register access, and the @samp{m} and @samp{M} commands
37519 for memory access. Stubs that only control single-threaded targets
37520 can implement run control with the @samp{c} (continue), and @samp{s}
37521 (step) commands. Stubs that support multi-threading targets should
37522 support the @samp{vCont} command. All other commands are optional.
37527 The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
37528 @var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
37529 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
37530 I/O extension of the remote protocol.
37532 Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
37533 syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
37534 include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
37535 part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
37536 separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
37537 @var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
37538 bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
37539 @var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
37540 @samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
37543 @cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
37544 @anchor{thread-id syntax}
37545 Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
37546 a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
37547 interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
37548 can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
37551 In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
37552 which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
37553 process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
37554 The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
37555 format described above: a positive number with target-specific
37556 interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
37557 to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
37558 indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
37559 @samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
37560 error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
37561 @samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
37562 for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
37563 ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
37565 The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
37566 @value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
37567 feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
37570 Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
37571 letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
37573 Here are the packet descriptions.
37578 @cindex @samp{!} packet
37579 @anchor{extended mode}
37580 Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
37581 persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
37587 The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
37591 @cindex @samp{?} packet
37592 Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
37593 step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
37594 target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
37597 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37599 @item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
37600 @cindex @samp{A} packet
37601 Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
37602 specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
37603 @var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
37608 The arguments were set.
37614 @cindex @samp{b} packet
37615 (Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
37616 Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
37618 JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
37619 received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
37620 problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
37622 Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
37623 it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
37624 some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
37625 switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
37626 of view, nothing actually happened.}
37628 @item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
37629 @cindex @samp{B} packet
37630 Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
37631 breakpoint at @var{addr}.
37633 Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
37634 (@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
37636 @cindex @samp{bc} packet
37639 Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
37640 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
37643 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37645 @cindex @samp{bs} packet
37648 Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
37649 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
37652 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37654 @item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
37655 @cindex @samp{c} packet
37656 Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
37657 resume at current address.
37659 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
37663 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37665 @item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
37666 @cindex @samp{C} packet
37667 Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
37668 @samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
37670 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
37674 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37677 @cindex @samp{d} packet
37680 Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
37681 (@pxref{General Query Packets}).
37685 @cindex @samp{D} packet
37686 The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
37687 remote system. It is sent to the remote target
37688 before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
37690 The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
37691 protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
37692 detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
37693 big-endian hex string.
37703 @item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
37704 @cindex @samp{F} packet
37705 A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
37706 This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
37707 Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
37710 @anchor{read registers packet}
37711 @cindex @samp{g} packet
37712 Read general registers.
37716 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
37717 Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
37718 with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
37719 each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
37720 determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
37721 @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
37722 specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
37724 When reading registers from a trace frame (@pxref{Analyze Collected
37725 Data,,Using the Collected Data}), the stub may also return a string of
37726 literal @samp{x}'s in place of the register data digits, to indicate
37727 that the corresponding register has not been collected, thus its value
37728 is unavailable. For example, for an architecture with 4 registers of
37729 4 bytes each, the following reply indicates to @value{GDBN} that
37730 registers 0 and 2 have not been collected, while registers 1 and 3
37731 have been collected, and both have zero value:
37735 <- @code{xxxxxxxx00000000xxxxxxxx00000000}
37742 @item G @var{XX@dots{}}
37743 @cindex @samp{G} packet
37744 Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
37745 description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
37755 @item H @var{op} @var{thread-id}
37756 @cindex @samp{H} packet
37757 Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
37758 @samp{G}, et.al.). @var{op} depends on the operation to be performed:
37759 it should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations (note that this
37760 is deprecated, supporting the @samp{vCont} command is a better
37761 option), @samp{g} for other operations. The thread designator
37762 @var{thread-id} has the format and interpretation described in
37763 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
37774 @c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
37775 @c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
37776 @c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
37777 @c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
37778 @c described. For example:
37780 @c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
37781 @c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
37782 @c otherwise returns current registers.
37784 @c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
37785 @c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
37786 @c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
37788 @item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
37789 @anchor{cycle step packet}
37790 @cindex @samp{i} packet
37791 Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
37792 present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
37793 step starting at that address.
37796 @cindex @samp{I} packet
37797 Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
37801 @cindex @samp{k} packet
37804 FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
37805 thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
37808 @item m @var{addr},@var{length}
37809 @cindex @samp{m} packet
37810 Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
37811 Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
37813 The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
37814 data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
37815 and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
37816 use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
37817 suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
37818 @cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
37819 @cindex size of remote memory accesses
37820 @cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
37824 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
37825 Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
37826 number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
37827 server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
37832 @item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
37833 @cindex @samp{M} packet
37834 Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
37835 @var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
37836 hexadecimal number.
37843 for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
37848 @cindex @samp{p} packet
37849 Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
37850 @xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
37851 register value is encoded.
37855 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
37856 the register's value
37860 Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
37863 @item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
37864 @anchor{write register packet}
37865 @cindex @samp{P} packet
37866 Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
37867 number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
37868 digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
37878 @item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
37879 @itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
37880 @cindex @samp{q} packet
37881 @cindex @samp{Q} packet
37882 General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
37883 described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
37886 @cindex @samp{r} packet
37887 Reset the entire system.
37889 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
37892 @cindex @samp{R} packet
37893 Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
37894 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
37896 The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
37898 @item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
37899 @cindex @samp{s} packet
37900 Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
37901 @var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
37903 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
37907 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37909 @item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
37910 @anchor{step with signal packet}
37911 @cindex @samp{S} packet
37912 Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
37913 requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
37915 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
37919 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
37921 @item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
37922 @cindex @samp{t} packet
37923 Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
37924 @var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
37925 @var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
37927 @item T @var{thread-id}
37928 @cindex @samp{T} packet
37929 Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
37934 thread is still alive
37940 Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
37941 up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
37943 @item vAttach;@var{pid}
37944 @cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
37945 Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
37946 The process ID is a
37947 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
37948 threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
37949 attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
37951 @c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
37952 @c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
37953 @c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
37954 @c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
37955 @c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
37956 @c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
37957 @c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
37958 @c stopping or restarting threads.
37960 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
37966 @item @r{Any stop packet}
37967 for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
37969 for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
37972 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
37973 @cindex @samp{vCont} packet
37974 @anchor{vCont packet}
37975 Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
37976 If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
37977 threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
37978 specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
37979 in their current state in non-stop mode.
37980 Specifying multiple
37981 default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
37982 Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
37984 Currently supported actions are:
37990 Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
37994 Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
37997 @item r @var{start},@var{end}
37998 Step once, and then keep stepping as long as the thread stops at
37999 addresses between @var{start} (inclusive) and @var{end} (exclusive).
38000 The remote stub reports a stop reply when either the thread goes out
38001 of the range or is stopped due to an unrelated reason, such as hitting
38002 a breakpoint. @xref{range stepping}.
38004 If the range is empty (@var{start} == @var{end}), then the action
38005 becomes equivalent to the @samp{s} action. In other words,
38006 single-step once, and report the stop (even if the stepped instruction
38007 jumps to @var{start}).
38009 (A stop reply may be sent at any point even if the PC is still within
38010 the stepping range; for example, it is valid to implement this packet
38011 in a degenerate way as a single instruction step operation.)
38015 The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
38016 @samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
38017 not supported in @samp{vCont}.
38019 The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
38020 (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
38021 A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
38022 When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
38023 the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
38024 signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
38025 as an implementation detail.
38027 The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
38028 multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
38029 this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
38030 in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
38034 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
38037 @cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
38038 Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
38042 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
38043 The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
38044 command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
38046 The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
38049 @item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
38050 @cindex @samp{vFile} packet
38051 Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
38052 see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
38054 @item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
38055 @cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
38056 Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
38057 @var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
38058 its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
38059 flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
38060 Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
38061 together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
38062 stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
38063 packet is received.
38073 @item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
38074 @cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
38075 Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
38076 is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
38077 packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
38078 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
38079 not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
38080 (although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
38081 have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
38082 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
38083 neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
38084 target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
38092 for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
38098 @cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
38099 Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
38100 The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
38101 @samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
38102 @samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
38103 regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
38104 request is completed.
38106 @item vKill;@var{pid}
38107 @cindex @samp{vKill} packet
38108 Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
38109 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
38110 preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
38111 supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
38121 @item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
38122 @cindex @samp{vRun} packet
38123 Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
38124 command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
38125 @var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
38126 (e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
38129 @c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
38131 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
38137 @item @r{Any stop packet}
38138 for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
38142 @cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
38143 @xref{Notification Packets}.
38145 @item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
38147 @cindex @samp{X} packet
38148 Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
38149 @var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
38150 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
38160 @item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
38161 @itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
38162 @anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
38163 @cindex @samp{z} packet
38164 @cindex @samp{Z} packets
38165 Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
38166 watchpoint starting at address @var{address} of kind @var{kind}.
38168 Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
38171 @emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
38172 for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
38173 remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
38174 @samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
38175 avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
38176 be implemented in an idempotent way.}
38178 @item z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38179 @itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}@r{[};cmds:@var{persist},@var{cmd_list}@dots{}@r{]}
38180 @cindex @samp{z0} packet
38181 @cindex @samp{Z0} packet
38182 Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
38183 @var{addr} of type @var{kind}.
38185 A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
38186 @var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
38187 @var{kind} is target-specific and typically indicates the size of
38188 the breakpoint in bytes that should be inserted. E.g., the @sc{arm}
38189 and @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint. Some
38190 architectures have additional meanings for @var{kind};
38191 @var{cond_list} is an optional list of conditional expressions in bytecode
38192 form that should be evaluated on the target's side. These are the
38193 conditions that should be taken into consideration when deciding if
38194 the breakpoint trigger should be reported back to @var{GDBN}.
38196 The @var{cond_list} parameter is comprised of a series of expressions,
38197 concatenated without separators. Each expression has the following form:
38201 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
38202 @var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
38203 actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
38207 The optional @var{cmd_list} parameter introduces commands that may be
38208 run on the target, rather than being reported back to @value{GDBN}.
38209 The parameter starts with a numeric flag @var{persist}; if the flag is
38210 nonzero, then the breakpoint may remain active and the commands
38211 continue to be run even when @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target.
38212 Following this flag is a series of expressions concatenated with no
38213 separators. Each expression has the following form:
38217 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
38218 @var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
38219 actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
38223 see @ref{Architecture-Specific Protocol Details}.
38225 @emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
38226 code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
38227 overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
38228 target, is not defined.}
38240 @item z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38241 @itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}
38242 @cindex @samp{z1} packet
38243 @cindex @samp{Z1} packet
38244 Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
38245 address @var{addr}.
38247 A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
38248 dependant on being able to modify the target's memory. @var{kind}
38249 and @var{cond_list} have the same meaning as in @samp{Z0} packets.
38251 @emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
38264 @item z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38265 @itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38266 @cindex @samp{z2} packet
38267 @cindex @samp{Z2} packet
38268 Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint at @var{addr}.
38269 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
38281 @item z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38282 @itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38283 @cindex @samp{z3} packet
38284 @cindex @samp{Z3} packet
38285 Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint at @var{addr}.
38286 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
38298 @item z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38299 @itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
38300 @cindex @samp{z4} packet
38301 @cindex @samp{Z4} packet
38302 Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint at @var{addr}.
38303 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
38317 @node Stop Reply Packets
38318 @section Stop Reply Packets
38319 @cindex stop reply packets
38321 The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
38322 @samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
38323 receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
38324 and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
38325 when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
38326 number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
38327 @value{GDBN} source code.
38329 As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
38330 reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
38331 syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
38337 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
38338 number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
38339 @var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
38341 @item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
38342 @cindex @samp{T} packet reply
38343 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
38344 number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
38345 @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
38346 and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
38347 round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
38348 this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
38352 If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
38353 corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
38354 series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
38355 two-digit hex number.
38358 If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
38359 the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
38362 If @var{n} is @samp{core}, then @var{r} is the hexadecimal number of
38363 the core on which the stop event was detected.
38366 If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
38367 specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
38368 reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
38369 signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
38372 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
38373 and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
38377 The currently defined stop reasons are:
38383 The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
38386 @cindex shared library events, remote reply
38388 The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
38389 @value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
38390 list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
38392 @cindex replay log events, remote reply
38394 The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
38395 logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
38396 beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
38397 will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
38398 for more information.
38402 @itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
38403 The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
38404 applicable to certain targets.
38406 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
38407 process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
38408 multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
38409 The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
38412 @itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
38413 The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
38415 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
38416 terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
38417 support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
38418 extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
38420 @item O @var{XX}@dots{}
38421 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
38422 written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
38423 while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
38424 for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
38426 @item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
38427 @var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
38428 be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
38429 correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
38430 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
38433 @samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
38434 this very system call.
38436 The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
38437 call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
38438 with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
38439 reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
38440 or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
38441 Protocol Extension}, for more details.
38445 @node General Query Packets
38446 @section General Query Packets
38447 @cindex remote query requests
38449 Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
38450 packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
38451 query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
38452 sending information to and from the stub.
38454 The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
38455 indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
38456 @value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
38457 definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
38462 The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
38464 Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
38467 The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
38468 lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
38469 the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
38470 foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
38473 The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
38474 parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
38475 separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
38476 full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
38477 in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
38478 with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
38479 packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
38480 for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
38481 are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
38482 existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
38485 Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
38486 has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
38487 explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
38488 templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
38489 @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
38491 Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
38497 Turn on or off the agent as a helper to perform some debugging operations
38498 delegated from @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Control Agent}).
38500 @item QAllow:@var{op}:@var{val}@dots{}
38501 @cindex @samp{QAllow} packet
38502 Specify which operations @value{GDBN} expects to request of the
38503 target, as a semicolon-separated list of operation name and value
38504 pairs. Possible values for @var{op} include @samp{WriteReg},
38505 @samp{WriteMem}, @samp{InsertBreak}, @samp{InsertTrace},
38506 @samp{InsertFastTrace}, and @samp{Stop}. @var{val} is either 0,
38507 indicating that @value{GDBN} will not request the operation, or 1,
38508 indicating that it may. (The target can then use this to set up its
38509 own internals optimally, for instance if the debugger never expects to
38510 insert breakpoints, it may not need to install its own trap handler.)
38513 @cindex current thread, remote request
38514 @cindex @samp{qC} packet
38515 Return the current thread ID.
38519 @item QC @var{thread-id}
38520 Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
38521 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
38522 @item @r{(anything else)}
38523 Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
38526 @item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
38527 @cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
38528 @cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
38529 Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
38530 IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
38531 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
38532 @code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
38534 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
38535 files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
38536 Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
38537 separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
38538 significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
38539 detect trailing zeros.
38544 An error (such as memory fault)
38545 @item C @var{crc32}
38546 The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
38549 @item QDisableRandomization:@var{value}
38550 @cindex disable address space randomization, remote request
38551 @cindex @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet
38552 Some target operating systems will randomize the virtual address space
38553 of the inferior process as a security feature, but provide a feature
38554 to disable such randomization, e.g.@: to allow for a more deterministic
38555 debugging experience. On such systems, this packet with a @var{value}
38556 of 1 directs the target to disable address space randomization for
38557 processes subsequently started via @samp{vRun} packets, while a packet
38558 with a @var{value} of 0 tells the target to enable address space
38561 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
38566 The request succeeded.
38569 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
38572 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QDisableRandomization} is not supported
38576 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38577 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38578 This should only be done on targets that actually support disabling
38579 address space randomization.
38582 @itemx qsThreadInfo
38583 @cindex list active threads, remote request
38584 @cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
38585 @cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
38586 Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
38587 may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
38588 works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
38589 obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
38590 be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
38591 sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
38593 NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
38597 @item m @var{thread-id}
38599 @item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
38600 a comma-separated list of thread IDs
38602 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
38605 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
38606 more thread IDs, separated by commas.
38607 @value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
38608 ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
38609 with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for @dfn{last}).
38610 Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
38613 @item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
38614 @cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
38615 @cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
38616 Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
38617 by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
38619 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
38620 thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
38622 @var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
38623 thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
38624 information associated with the variable.)
38626 @var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
38627 load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
38628 a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
38629 object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
38630 Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
38631 differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
38635 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
38636 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
38637 local storage requested.
38640 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
38643 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
38646 @item qGetTIBAddr:@var{thread-id}
38647 @cindex get thread information block address
38648 @cindex @samp{qGetTIBAddr} packet
38649 Fetch address of the Windows OS specific Thread Information Block.
38651 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the thread.
38655 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
38656 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the linear address of the
38657 thread information block.
38660 An error occured. This means that either the thread was not found, or the
38661 address could not be retrieved.
38664 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTIBAddr} is not supported by the stub.
38667 @item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
38668 Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
38669 digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
38670 subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
38671 number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
38672 (eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
38673 returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
38675 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
38679 @item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
38680 Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
38681 returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
38682 and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
38683 digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
38684 is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
38685 digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
38689 @cindex section offsets, remote request
38690 @cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
38691 Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
38696 @item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
38697 Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
38698 Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
38699 If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
38700 @samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
38701 segments by the supplied offsets.
38703 @emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
38704 @value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
38705 to the @code{Bss} section.}
38707 @item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
38708 Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
38709 contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
38710 @samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
38711 conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
38712 @var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
38713 does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
38714 as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
38715 kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
38718 @item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
38719 @cindex thread information, remote request
38720 @cindex @samp{qP} packet
38721 Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
38722 encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
38723 (@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
38725 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
38728 Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
38732 @cindex non-stop mode, remote request
38733 @cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
38735 Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
38736 @xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
38741 The request succeeded.
38744 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
38747 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
38751 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38752 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38753 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
38754 @pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
38756 @item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
38757 @cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
38758 @cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
38759 @anchor{QPassSignals}
38760 Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
38761 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
38762 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
38763 strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
38764 the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
38765 reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
38766 combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
38767 new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
38768 @var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
38773 The request succeeded.
38776 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
38779 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
38783 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
38784 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
38785 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38786 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38788 @item QProgramSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
38789 @cindex signals the inferior may see, remote request
38790 @cindex @samp{QProgramSignals} packet
38791 @anchor{QProgramSignals}
38792 Each listed @var{signal} may be delivered to the inferior process.
38793 Others should be silently discarded.
38795 In some cases, the remote stub may need to decide whether to deliver a
38796 signal to the program or not without @value{GDBN} involvement. One
38797 example of that is while detaching --- the program's threads may have
38798 stopped for signals that haven't yet had a chance of being reported to
38799 @value{GDBN}, and so the remote stub can use the signal list specified
38800 by this packet to know whether to deliver or ignore those pending
38803 This does not influence whether to deliver a signal as requested by a
38804 resumption packet (@pxref{vCont packet}).
38806 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
38807 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
38808 strictly greater than the previous item. Multiple
38809 @samp{QProgramSignals} packets do not combine; any earlier
38810 @samp{QProgramSignals} list is completely replaced by the new list.
38815 The request succeeded.
38818 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
38821 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QProgramSignals} is not supported
38825 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote program-signals}
38826 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote program-signals}).
38827 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
38828 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38830 @item qRcmd,@var{command}
38831 @cindex execute remote command, remote request
38832 @cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
38833 @var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
38834 execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
38835 string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
38836 with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
38837 packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
38838 stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
38843 A command response with no output.
38845 A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
38847 Indicate a badly formed request.
38849 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
38852 (Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
38853 command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
38854 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
38857 @item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
38858 @cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
38860 @cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
38862 @cindex @samp{qSearch memory} packet
38863 @anchor{qSearch memory}
38864 Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
38865 @var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
38866 @var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
38871 The pattern was not found.
38873 The pattern was found at @var{address}.
38875 A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
38877 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
38880 @item QStartNoAckMode
38881 @cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
38882 @anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
38883 Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
38884 protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
38889 The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
38890 @value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
38891 but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
38892 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
38894 An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
38897 @item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
38898 @cindex supported packets, remote query
38899 @cindex features of the remote protocol
38900 @cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
38901 @anchor{qSupported}
38902 Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
38903 query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
38904 @value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
38905 features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
38906 at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
38907 packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
38908 high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
38909 be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
38910 stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
38911 automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
38912 reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
38913 unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
38914 helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
38915 versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
38919 @item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
38920 The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
38921 depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
38924 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
38925 or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
38928 The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
38929 @samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
38933 @item @var{name}=@var{value}
38934 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
38935 with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
38936 on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
38938 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
38939 need an associated value.
38941 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
38943 The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
38944 @value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
38945 needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
38946 but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
38949 Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
38950 supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
38951 request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
38952 state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
38953 a different version of @value{GDBN}.
38955 The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
38960 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
38961 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
38962 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
38963 including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
38964 @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
38967 This feature indicates that @value{GDBN} supports the XML target
38968 description. If the stub sees @samp{xmlRegisters=} with target
38969 specific strings separated by a comma, it will report register
38973 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the
38974 @samp{qRelocInsn} packet (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
38975 instruction reply packet}).
38978 Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
38979 @var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
38980 packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
38981 versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
38982 for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
38983 advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
38984 improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
38985 an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
38986 of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
38987 describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
38988 all the features it supports.
38990 Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
38991 responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
38993 Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
38994 should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
38995 require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
38998 Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
38999 @samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
39000 in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
39001 stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
39003 Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
39004 mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
39005 architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
39006 about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
39007 stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
39009 These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
39011 @multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
39012 @c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
39013 @c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
39015 @tab Value Required
39019 @item @samp{PacketSize}
39024 @item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
39029 @item @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
39034 @item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
39039 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
39044 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read}
39049 @item @samp{augmented-libraries-svr4-read}
39054 @item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
39059 @item @samp{qXfer:sdata:read}
39064 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
39069 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
39074 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
39079 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
39084 @item @samp{qXfer:threads:read}
39089 @item @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
39094 @item @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
39099 @item @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
39104 @item @samp{Qbtrace:off}
39109 @item @samp{Qbtrace:bts}
39114 @item @samp{QNonStop}
39119 @item @samp{QPassSignals}
39124 @item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
39129 @item @samp{multiprocess}
39134 @item @samp{ConditionalBreakpoints}
39139 @item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
39144 @item @samp{ReverseContinue}
39149 @item @samp{ReverseStep}
39154 @item @samp{TracepointSource}
39159 @item @samp{QAgent}
39164 @item @samp{QAllow}
39169 @item @samp{QDisableRandomization}
39174 @item @samp{EnableDisableTracepoints}
39179 @item @samp{QTBuffer:size}
39184 @item @samp{tracenz}
39189 @item @samp{BreakpointCommands}
39196 These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
39199 @cindex packet size, remote protocol
39200 @item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
39201 The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
39202 length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
39203 transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
39204 data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
39205 There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
39206 stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
39207 byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
39208 @value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
39210 @item qXfer:auxv:read
39211 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
39212 (@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
39214 @item qXfer:btrace:read
39215 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
39216 packet (@pxref{qXfer btrace read}).
39218 @item qXfer:features:read
39219 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
39220 (@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
39222 @item qXfer:libraries:read
39223 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
39224 (@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
39226 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read
39227 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
39228 (@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
39230 @item augmented-libraries-svr4-read
39231 The remote stub understands the augmented form of the
39232 @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
39233 (@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
39235 @item qXfer:memory-map:read
39236 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
39237 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
39239 @item qXfer:sdata:read
39240 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:sdata:read} packet
39241 (@pxref{qXfer sdata read}).
39243 @item qXfer:spu:read
39244 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
39245 (@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
39247 @item qXfer:spu:write
39248 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
39249 (@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
39251 @item qXfer:siginfo:read
39252 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
39253 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
39255 @item qXfer:siginfo:write
39256 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
39257 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
39259 @item qXfer:threads:read
39260 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
39261 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}).
39263 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read
39264 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
39265 packet (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}).
39267 @item qXfer:uib:read
39268 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
39269 packet (@pxref{qXfer unwind info block}).
39271 @item qXfer:fdpic:read
39272 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
39273 packet (@pxref{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}).
39276 The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
39277 (@pxref{QNonStop}).
39280 The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
39281 (@pxref{QPassSignals}).
39283 @item QStartNoAckMode
39284 The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
39285 prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
39288 @anchor{multiprocess extensions}
39289 @cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
39290 The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
39291 protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
39292 thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
39293 add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
39294 replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
39295 syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
39296 debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
39297 multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
39298 indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
39300 @item qXfer:osdata:read
39301 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
39302 ((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
39304 @item ConditionalBreakpoints
39305 The target accepts and implements evaluation of conditional expressions
39306 defined for breakpoints. The target will only report breakpoint triggers
39307 when such conditions are true (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
39309 @item ConditionalTracepoints
39310 The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
39311 for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
39313 @item ReverseContinue
39314 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
39318 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
39321 @item TracepointSource
39322 The remote stub understands the @samp{QTDPsrc} packet that supplies
39323 the source form of tracepoint definitions.
39326 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAgent} packet.
39329 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAllow} packet.
39331 @item QDisableRandomization
39332 The remote stub understands the @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet.
39334 @item StaticTracepoint
39335 @cindex static tracepoints, in remote protocol
39336 The remote stub supports static tracepoints.
39338 @item InstallInTrace
39339 @anchor{install tracepoint in tracing}
39340 The remote stub supports installing tracepoint in tracing.
39342 @item EnableDisableTracepoints
39343 The remote stub supports the @samp{QTEnable} (@pxref{QTEnable}) and
39344 @samp{QTDisable} (@pxref{QTDisable}) packets that allow tracepoints
39345 to be enabled and disabled while a trace experiment is running.
39347 @item QTBuffer:size
39348 The remote stub supports the @samp{QTBuffer:size} (@pxref{QTBuffer-size})
39349 packet that allows to change the size of the trace buffer.
39352 @cindex string tracing, in remote protocol
39353 The remote stub supports the @samp{tracenz} bytecode for collecting strings.
39354 See @ref{Bytecode Descriptions} for details about the bytecode.
39356 @item BreakpointCommands
39357 @cindex breakpoint commands, in remote protocol
39358 The remote stub supports running a breakpoint's command list itself,
39359 rather than reporting the hit to @value{GDBN}.
39362 The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace:off} packet.
39365 The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace:bts} packet.
39370 @cindex symbol lookup, remote request
39371 @cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
39372 Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
39373 requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
39378 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
39379 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
39380 The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
39381 @value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
39382 @samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
39386 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
39387 Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
39389 @var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
39390 target has previously requested.
39392 @var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
39393 @value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
39399 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
39400 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
39401 The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
39402 encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
39403 (if available), until the target ceases to request them.
39408 @itemx QTDisconnected
39415 @itemx qTMinFTPILen
39417 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
39419 @item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
39420 @cindex thread attributes info, remote request
39421 @cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
39422 Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
39423 the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
39424 see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
39425 string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
39426 for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
39427 displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
39428 examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
39429 @samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
39433 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
39434 Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
39435 comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
39436 the thread's attributes.
39439 (Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
39440 the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
39441 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
39460 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
39462 @item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39463 @cindex read special object, remote request
39464 @cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
39465 @anchor{qXfer read}
39466 Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
39467 identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
39468 starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
39469 encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
39470 additional details about what data to access.
39472 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
39473 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
39474 formats, listed below.
39477 @item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39478 @anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
39479 Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
39480 auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
39482 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39483 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39485 @item qXfer:btrace:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39486 @anchor{qXfer btrace read}
39488 Return a description of the current branch trace.
39489 @xref{Branch Trace Format}. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer}
39490 packet may have one of the following values:
39494 Returns all available branch trace.
39497 Returns all available branch trace if the branch trace changed since
39498 the last read request.
39501 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it
39502 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39504 @item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39505 @anchor{qXfer target description read}
39506 Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
39507 annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
39508 always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
39510 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39511 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39513 @item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39514 @anchor{qXfer library list read}
39515 Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
39516 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
39517 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
39519 Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
39520 not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
39521 the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
39523 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39524 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39526 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39527 @anchor{qXfer svr4 library list read}
39528 Access the target's list of loaded libraries when the target is an SVR4
39529 platform. @xref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets}. The annex part
39530 of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty unless the remote
39531 stub indicated it supports the augmented form of this packet
39532 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
39533 (@pxref{qXfer read}, @ref{qSupported}).
39535 This packet is optional for better performance on SVR4 targets.
39536 @value{GDBN} uses memory read packets to read the SVR4 library list otherwise.
39538 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39539 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39541 If the remote stub indicates it supports the augmented form of this
39542 packet then the annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet may
39543 contain a semicolon-separated list of @samp{@var{name}=@var{value}}
39544 arguments. The currently supported arguments are:
39547 @item start=@var{address}
39548 A hexadecimal number specifying the address of the @samp{struct
39549 link_map} to start reading the library list from. If unset or zero
39550 then the first @samp{struct link_map} in the library list will be
39551 chosen as the starting point.
39553 @item prev=@var{address}
39554 A hexadecimal number specifying the address of the @samp{struct
39555 link_map} immediately preceding the @samp{struct link_map}
39556 specified by the @samp{start} argument. If unset or zero then
39557 the remote stub will expect that no @samp{struct link_map}
39558 exists prior to the starting point.
39562 Arguments that are not understood by the remote stub will be silently
39565 @item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39566 @anchor{qXfer memory map read}
39567 Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
39568 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
39569 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
39571 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39572 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39574 @item qXfer:sdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39575 @anchor{qXfer sdata read}
39577 Read contents of the extra collected static tracepoint marker
39578 information. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must
39579 be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}). @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint
39582 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39583 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
39584 (@pxref{qSupported}).
39586 @item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39587 @anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
39588 Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
39589 system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
39590 empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
39592 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39593 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
39594 (@pxref{qSupported}).
39596 @item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39597 @anchor{qXfer spu read}
39598 Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
39599 annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
39600 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
39601 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
39602 in that context to be accessed.
39604 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39605 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
39606 (@pxref{qSupported}).
39608 @item qXfer:threads:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39609 @anchor{qXfer threads read}
39610 Access the list of threads on target. @xref{Thread List Format}. The
39611 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
39612 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
39614 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39615 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39617 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39618 @anchor{qXfer traceframe info read}
39620 Return a description of the current traceframe's contents.
39621 @xref{Traceframe Info Format}. The annex part of the generic
39622 @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
39624 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39625 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39627 @item qXfer:uib:read:@var{pc}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39628 @anchor{qXfer unwind info block}
39630 Return the unwind information block for @var{pc}. This packet is used
39631 on OpenVMS/ia64 to ask the kernel unwind information.
39633 This packet is not probed by default.
39635 @item qXfer:fdpic:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
39636 @anchor{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}
39637 Read contents of @code{loadmap}s on the target system. The
39638 annex, either @samp{exec} or @samp{interp}, specifies which @code{loadmap},
39639 executable @code{loadmap} or interpreter @code{loadmap} to read.
39641 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39642 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39644 @item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
39645 @anchor{qXfer osdata read}
39646 Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
39647 @xref{Operating System Information}.
39654 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
39655 target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
39656 it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
39657 block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
39658 @var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
39662 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
39663 There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
39664 than the @var{length} in the request.
39667 The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
39668 There is no more data to be read.
39671 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
39674 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
39675 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
39678 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
39679 the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
39682 @item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
39683 @cindex write data into object, remote request
39684 @anchor{qXfer write}
39685 Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
39686 identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
39687 into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
39688 (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
39689 is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
39692 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
39693 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
39694 formats, listed below.
39697 @item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
39698 @anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
39699 Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
39700 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
39701 empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
39703 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39704 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
39705 (@pxref{qSupported}).
39707 @item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
39708 @anchor{qXfer spu write}
39709 Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
39710 annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
39711 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
39712 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
39713 in that context to be accessed.
39715 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
39716 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
39722 @var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
39723 This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
39726 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
39729 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
39730 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
39733 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
39734 recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
39737 @item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
39738 Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
39739 not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
39740 @var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
39741 must respond with an empty packet.
39743 @item qAttached:@var{pid}
39744 @cindex query attached, remote request
39745 @cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
39746 Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
39747 existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
39748 protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
39749 @var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
39750 process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
39751 the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
39753 This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
39754 should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
39755 the @code{quit} command.
39760 The remote server attached to an existing process.
39762 The remote server created a new process.
39764 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
39768 Enable branch tracing for the current thread using bts tracing.
39773 Branch tracing has been enabled.
39775 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
39779 Disable branch tracing for the current thread.
39784 Branch tracing has been disabled.
39786 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
39791 @node Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
39792 @section Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
39794 This section describes how the remote protocol is applied to specific
39795 target architectures. Also see @ref{Standard Target Features}, for
39796 details of XML target descriptions for each architecture.
39799 * ARM-Specific Protocol Details::
39800 * MIPS-Specific Protocol Details::
39803 @node ARM-Specific Protocol Details
39804 @subsection @acronym{ARM}-specific Protocol Details
39807 * ARM Breakpoint Kinds::
39810 @node ARM Breakpoint Kinds
39811 @subsubsection @acronym{ARM} Breakpoint Kinds
39812 @cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{ARM}
39814 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
39819 16-bit Thumb mode breakpoint.
39822 32-bit Thumb mode (Thumb-2) breakpoint.
39825 32-bit @acronym{ARM} mode breakpoint.
39829 @node MIPS-Specific Protocol Details
39830 @subsection @acronym{MIPS}-specific Protocol Details
39833 * MIPS Register packet Format::
39834 * MIPS Breakpoint Kinds::
39837 @node MIPS Register packet Format
39838 @subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Register Packet Format
39839 @cindex register packet format, @acronym{MIPS}
39841 The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
39842 In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
39843 sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
39844 to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
39845 byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
39846 most-significant -- least-significant.
39851 All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
39852 32 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
39853 registers; fsr; fir; fp.
39856 All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
39857 thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
39862 @node MIPS Breakpoint Kinds
39863 @subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Breakpoint Kinds
39864 @cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{MIPS}
39866 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
39871 16-bit @acronym{MIPS16} mode breakpoint.
39874 16-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
39877 32-bit standard @acronym{MIPS} mode breakpoint.
39880 32-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
39884 @node Tracepoint Packets
39885 @section Tracepoint Packets
39886 @cindex tracepoint packets
39887 @cindex packets, tracepoint
39889 Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
39890 tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
39894 @item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
39895 @cindex @samp{QTDP} packet
39896 Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
39897 is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
39898 the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
39899 count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
39900 then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
39901 the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
39902 for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
39903 tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
39904 by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
39905 encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
39906 further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
39912 The packet was understood and carried out.
39914 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
39916 The packet was not recognized.
39919 @item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
39920 Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
39921 @var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
39922 this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
39923 another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
39924 trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
39925 specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
39927 In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
39928 can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
39929 is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
39930 actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
39931 taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
39932 @samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
39933 tracepoint actions.
39935 The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
39936 actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
39942 Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
39943 a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
39944 @var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
39945 zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
39946 not fit in a 32-bit word.
39948 @item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
39949 Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
39950 number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
39951 @samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
39952 address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
39953 @var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
39954 values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
39956 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
39957 Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
39958 it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
39959 @ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
39960 two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
39961 in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
39966 Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
39967 packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
39968 length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
39969 action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
39970 actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
39971 must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
39972 ``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
39973 separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
39978 The packet was understood and carried out.
39980 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
39982 The packet was not recognized.
39985 @item QTDPsrc:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{type}:@var{start}:@var{slen}:@var{bytes}
39986 @cindex @samp{QTDPsrc} packet
39987 Specify a source string of tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr}.
39988 This is useful to get accurate reproduction of the tracepoints
39989 originally downloaded at the beginning of the trace run. @var{type}
39990 is the name of the tracepoint part, such as @samp{cond} for the
39991 tracepoint's conditional expression (see below for a list of types), while
39992 @var{bytes} is the string, encoded in hexadecimal.
39994 @var{start} is the offset of the @var{bytes} within the overall source
39995 string, while @var{slen} is the total length of the source string.
39996 This is intended for handling source strings that are longer than will
39997 fit in a single packet.
39998 @c Add detailed example when this info is moved into a dedicated
39999 @c tracepoint descriptions section.
40001 The available string types are @samp{at} for the location,
40002 @samp{cond} for the conditional, and @samp{cmd} for an action command.
40003 @value{GDBN} sends a separate packet for each command in the action
40004 list, in the same order in which the commands are stored in the list.
40006 The target does not need to do anything with source strings except
40007 report them back as part of the replies to the @samp{qTfP}/@samp{qTsP}
40010 Although this packet is optional, and @value{GDBN} will only send it
40011 if the target replies with @samp{TracepointSource} @xref{General
40012 Query Packets}, it makes both disconnected tracing and trace files
40013 much easier to use. Otherwise the user must be careful that the
40014 tracepoints in effect while looking at trace frames are identical to
40015 the ones in effect during the trace run; even a small discrepancy
40016 could cause @samp{tdump} not to work, or a particular trace frame not
40019 @item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}
40020 @cindex define trace state variable, remote request
40021 @cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
40022 Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
40023 value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
40024 and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
40025 the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
40026 target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
40027 mentioned in expressions.
40029 @item QTFrame:@var{n}
40030 @cindex @samp{QTFrame} packet
40031 Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
40032 register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
40033 request packets from @value{GDBN}.
40035 A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
40036 requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
40037 without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
40038 one of the following forms:
40042 The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
40043 @var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
40044 was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
40047 The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
40048 @var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
40052 @item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
40053 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
40054 currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
40055 @var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
40057 @item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
40058 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
40059 currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
40060 is a hexadecimal number.
40062 @item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
40063 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
40064 currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
40065 and @var{end} (inclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
40068 @item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
40069 Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
40070 frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses (exclusive).
40073 @cindex @samp{qTMinFTPILen} packet
40074 This packet requests the minimum length of instruction at which a fast
40075 tracepoint (@pxref{Set Tracepoints}) may be placed. For instance, on
40076 the 32-bit x86 architecture, it is possible to use a 4-byte jump, but
40077 it depends on the target system being able to create trampolines in
40078 the first 64K of memory, which might or might not be possible for that
40079 system. So the reply to this packet will be 4 if it is able to
40086 The minimum instruction length is currently unknown.
40088 The minimum instruction length is @var{length}, where @var{length} is greater
40089 or equal to 1. @var{length} is a hexadecimal number. A reply of 1 means
40090 that a fast tracepoint may be placed on any instruction regardless of size.
40092 An error has occurred.
40094 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the stub.
40098 @cindex @samp{QTStart} packet
40099 Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from
40100 tracepoint hits in the trace frame buffer. This packet supports the
40101 @samp{qRelocInsn} reply (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
40102 instruction reply packet}).
40105 @cindex @samp{QTStop} packet
40106 End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
40108 @item QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
40110 @cindex @samp{QTEnable} packet
40111 Enable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
40112 experiment. If the tracepoint was previously disabled, then collection
40113 of data from it will resume.
40115 @item QTDisable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
40117 @cindex @samp{QTDisable} packet
40118 Disable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
40119 experiment. No more data will be collected from the tracepoint unless
40120 @samp{QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}} is subsequently issued.
40123 @cindex @samp{QTinit} packet
40124 Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
40126 @item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
40127 @cindex @samp{QTro} packet
40128 Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
40129 will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
40130 if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
40132 @value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
40133 containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
40134 still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
40135 there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
40137 @item QTDisconnected:@var{value}
40138 @cindex @samp{QTDisconnected} packet
40139 Set the choice to what to do with the tracing run when @value{GDBN}
40140 disconnects from the target. A @var{value} of 1 directs the target to
40141 continue the tracing run, while 0 tells the target to stop tracing if
40142 @value{GDBN} is no longer in the picture.
40145 @cindex @samp{qTStatus} packet
40146 Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
40148 The reply has the form:
40152 @item T@var{running}@r{[};@var{field}@r{]}@dots{}
40153 @var{running} is a single digit @code{1} if the trace is presently
40154 running, or @code{0} if not. It is followed by semicolon-separated
40155 optional fields that an agent may use to report additional status.
40159 If the trace is not running, the agent may report any of several
40160 explanations as one of the optional fields:
40165 No trace has been run yet.
40167 @item tstop[:@var{text}]:0
40168 The trace was stopped by a user-originated stop command. The optional
40169 @var{text} field is a user-supplied string supplied as part of the
40170 stop command (for instance, an explanation of why the trace was
40171 stopped manually). It is hex-encoded.
40174 The trace stopped because the trace buffer filled up.
40176 @item tdisconnected:0
40177 The trace stopped because @value{GDBN} disconnected from the target.
40179 @item tpasscount:@var{tpnum}
40180 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} exceeded its pass count.
40182 @item terror:@var{text}:@var{tpnum}
40183 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} had an error. The
40184 string @var{text} is available to describe the nature of the error
40185 (for instance, a divide by zero in the condition expression).
40186 @var{text} is hex encoded.
40189 The trace stopped for some other reason.
40193 Additional optional fields supply statistical and other information.
40194 Although not required, they are extremely useful for users monitoring
40195 the progress of a trace run. If a trace has stopped, and these
40196 numbers are reported, they must reflect the state of the just-stopped
40201 @item tframes:@var{n}
40202 The number of trace frames in the buffer.
40204 @item tcreated:@var{n}
40205 The total number of trace frames created during the run. This may
40206 be larger than the trace frame count, if the buffer is circular.
40208 @item tsize:@var{n}
40209 The total size of the trace buffer, in bytes.
40211 @item tfree:@var{n}
40212 The number of bytes still unused in the buffer.
40214 @item circular:@var{n}
40215 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
40216 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
40217 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
40220 @item disconn:@var{n}
40221 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
40222 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
40223 that the trace run will stop.
40227 @item qTP:@var{tp}:@var{addr}
40228 @cindex tracepoint status, remote request
40229 @cindex @samp{qTP} packet
40230 Ask the stub for the current state of tracepoint number @var{tp} at
40231 address @var{addr}.
40235 @item V@var{hits}:@var{usage}
40236 The tracepoint has been hit @var{hits} times so far during the trace
40237 run, and accounts for @var{usage} in the trace buffer. Note that
40238 @code{while-stepping} steps are not counted as separate hits, but the
40239 steps' space consumption is added into the usage number.
40243 @item qTV:@var{var}
40244 @cindex trace state variable value, remote request
40245 @cindex @samp{qTV} packet
40246 Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
40251 The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
40252 value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
40253 saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
40254 user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
40255 different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
40256 program is running.
40259 The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
40260 if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
40265 @cindex @samp{qTfP} packet
40267 @cindex @samp{qTsP} packet
40268 These packets request data about tracepoints that are being used by
40269 the target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfP} to get the first piece
40270 of data, and multiple @code{qTsP} to get additional pieces. Replies
40271 to these packets generally take the form of the @code{QTDP} packets
40272 that define tracepoints. (FIXME add detailed syntax)
40275 @cindex @samp{qTfV} packet
40277 @cindex @samp{qTsV} packet
40278 These packets request data about trace state variables that are on the
40279 target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfV} to get the first vari of data,
40280 and multiple @code{qTsV} to get additional variables. Replies to
40281 these packets follow the syntax of the @code{QTDV} packets that define
40282 trace state variables.
40288 @cindex @samp{qTfSTM} packet
40289 @cindex @samp{qTsSTM} packet
40290 These packets request data about static tracepoint markers that exist
40291 in the target program. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfSTM} to get the
40292 first piece of data, and multiple @code{qTsSTM} to get additional
40293 pieces. Replies to these packets take the following form:
40297 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}
40299 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra},@var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}@dots{}
40300 a comma-separated list of markers
40302 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
40304 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
40306 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the
40310 @var{address} is encoded in hex.
40311 @var{id} and @var{extra} are strings encoded in hex.
40313 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
40314 more markers, separated by commas. @value{GDBN} will respond to each
40315 reply with a request for more markers (using the @samp{qs} form of the
40316 query), until the target responds with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for
40319 @item qTSTMat:@var{address}
40321 @cindex @samp{qTSTMat} packet
40322 This packets requests data about static tracepoint markers in the
40323 target program at @var{address}. Replies to this packet follow the
40324 syntax of the @samp{qTfSTM} and @code{qTsSTM} packets that list static
40325 tracepoint markers.
40327 @item QTSave:@var{filename}
40328 @cindex @samp{QTSave} packet
40329 This packet directs the target to save trace data to the file name
40330 @var{filename} in the target's filesystem. @var{filename} is encoded
40331 as a hex string; the interpretation of the file name (relative vs
40332 absolute, wild cards, etc) is up to the target.
40334 @item qTBuffer:@var{offset},@var{len}
40335 @cindex @samp{qTBuffer} packet
40336 Return up to @var{len} bytes of the current contents of trace buffer,
40337 starting at @var{offset}. The trace buffer is treated as if it were
40338 a contiguous collection of traceframes, as per the trace file format.
40339 The reply consists as many hex-encoded bytes as the target can deliver
40340 in a packet; it is not an error to return fewer than were asked for.
40341 A reply consisting of just @code{l} indicates that no bytes are
40344 @item QTBuffer:circular:@var{value}
40345 This packet directs the target to use a circular trace buffer if
40346 @var{value} is 1, or a linear buffer if the value is 0.
40348 @item QTBuffer:size:@var{size}
40349 @anchor{QTBuffer-size}
40350 @cindex @samp{QTBuffer size} packet
40351 This packet directs the target to make the trace buffer be of size
40352 @var{size} if possible. A value of @code{-1} tells the target to
40353 use whatever size it prefers.
40355 @item QTNotes:@r{[}@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@r{[};@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@dots{}
40356 @cindex @samp{QTNotes} packet
40357 This packet adds optional textual notes to the trace run. Allowable
40358 types include @code{user}, @code{notes}, and @code{tstop}, the
40359 @var{text} fields are arbitrary strings, hex-encoded.
40363 @subsection Relocate instruction reply packet
40364 When installing fast tracepoints in memory, the target may need to
40365 relocate the instruction currently at the tracepoint address to a
40366 different address in memory. For most instructions, a simple copy is
40367 enough, but, for example, call instructions that implicitly push the
40368 return address on the stack, and relative branches or other
40369 PC-relative instructions require offset adjustment, so that the effect
40370 of executing the instruction at a different address is the same as if
40371 it had executed in the original location.
40373 In response to several of the tracepoint packets, the target may also
40374 respond with a number of intermediate @samp{qRelocInsn} request
40375 packets before the final result packet, to have @value{GDBN} handle
40376 this relocation operation. If a packet supports this mechanism, its
40377 documentation will explicitly say so. See for example the above
40378 descriptions for the @samp{QTStart} and @samp{QTDP} packets. The
40379 format of the request is:
40382 @item qRelocInsn:@var{from};@var{to}
40384 This requests @value{GDBN} to copy instruction at address @var{from}
40385 to address @var{to}, possibly adjusted so that executing the
40386 instruction at @var{to} has the same effect as executing it at
40387 @var{from}. @value{GDBN} writes the adjusted instruction to target
40388 memory starting at @var{to}.
40393 @item qRelocInsn:@var{adjusted_size}
40394 Informs the stub the relocation is complete. @var{adjusted_size} is
40395 the length in bytes of resulting relocated instruction sequence.
40397 A badly formed request was detected, or an error was encountered while
40398 relocating the instruction.
40401 @node Host I/O Packets
40402 @section Host I/O Packets
40403 @cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
40404 @cindex file transfer, remote protocol
40406 The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
40407 operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
40408 used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
40409 filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
40410 layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
40411 Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
40412 protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
40413 Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
40414 target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
40415 Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
40417 The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
40418 its arguments. They have this format:
40422 @item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
40423 @var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
40424 should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
40425 for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
40426 the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
40427 numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
40428 used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
40429 hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
40430 buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
40434 The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
40438 @item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
40439 @var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
40440 non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
40441 @var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
40442 value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
40443 operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
40444 binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
40445 normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
40446 documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
40450 An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
40454 These are the supported Host I/O operations:
40457 @item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
40458 Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
40459 return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
40460 @var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
40461 (@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
40462 of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
40463 @xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
40465 @item vFile:close: @var{fd}
40466 Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
40467 -1 if an error occurs.
40469 @item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
40470 Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
40471 @var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
40472 relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
40473 common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
40474 condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
40475 returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
40476 @var{count} was zero.
40478 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
40479 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
40480 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
40481 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
40482 some characters were escaped.
40484 @item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
40485 Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
40486 to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
40487 file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
40488 separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
40489 packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
40490 which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
40493 @item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
40494 Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
40495 or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
40497 @item vFile:readlink: @var{filename}
40498 Read value of symbolic link @var{filename} on the target. Return
40499 the number of bytes read, or -1 if an error occurs.
40501 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
40502 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
40503 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
40504 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
40505 some characters were escaped.
40510 @section Interrupts
40511 @cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
40513 When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
40514 attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or
40515 a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g},
40516 control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
40518 The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
40519 mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
40520 currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
40521 interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
40522 @code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
40524 @samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
40525 transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
40526 @code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
40527 the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
40528 transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
40529 and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
40530 (@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
40531 @code{0x03} as part of its packet.
40533 @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
40534 When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
40535 it stops execution and connects to gdb.
40537 Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
40538 precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
40539 implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
40540 threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
40541 currently-executing threads and processes.
40542 If the stub is successful at interrupting the
40543 running program, it should send one of the stop
40544 reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
40545 of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
40546 for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
40547 Interrupts received while the
40548 program is stopped are discarded.
40550 @node Notification Packets
40551 @section Notification Packets
40552 @cindex notification packets
40553 @cindex packets, notification
40555 The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
40556 packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
40557 may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
40558 present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
40559 without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
40560 are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
40563 A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
40564 @var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
40565 and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
40566 as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
40567 never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
40568 receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
40569 to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
40571 Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
40572 colon characters, followed by a colon character.
40574 Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
40575 notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
40576 timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
40577 not they understand it.
40579 Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
40580 protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
40581 future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
40582 new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
40585 (Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
40586 the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
40587 transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
40588 are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
40589 assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
40591 Each notification is comprised of three parts:
40593 @item @var{name}:@var{event}
40594 The notification packet is sent by the side that initiates the
40595 exchange (currently, only the stub does that), with @var{event}
40596 carrying the specific information about the notification.
40597 @var{name} is the name of the notification.
40599 The acknowledge sent by the other side, usually @value{GDBN}, to
40600 acknowledge the exchange and request the event.
40603 The purpose of an asynchronous notification mechanism is to report to
40604 @value{GDBN} that something interesting happened in the remote stub.
40606 The remote stub may send notification @var{name}:@var{event}
40607 at any time, but @value{GDBN} acknowledges the notification when
40608 appropriate. The notification event is pending before @value{GDBN}
40609 acknowledges. Only one notification at a time may be pending; if
40610 additional events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
40611 previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
40612 synchronous transmission in response to @var{ack} packets from
40613 @value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
40614 the stub is permitted to resend a notification if it believes
40615 @value{GDBN} may not have received it.
40617 Specifically, notifications may appear when @value{GDBN} is not
40618 otherwise reading input from the stub, or when @value{GDBN} is
40619 expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
40620 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
40621 Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
40622 the stub so there is no ambiguity.
40624 After receiving a notification, @value{GDBN} shall acknowledge it by
40625 sending a @var{ack} packet as a regular, synchronous request to the
40626 stub. Such acknowledgment is not required to happen immediately, as
40627 @value{GDBN} is permitted to send other, unrelated packets to the
40628 stub first, which the stub should process normally.
40630 Upon receiving a @var{ack} packet, if the stub has other queued
40631 events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
40632 normal @var{event}. @value{GDBN} shall then send another @var{ack}
40633 packet to solicit further responses; again, it is permitted to send
40634 other, unrelated packets as well which the stub should process
40637 If the stub receives a @var{ack} packet and there are no additional
40638 @var{event} to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK} response.
40639 At this point, @value{GDBN} has finished processing a notification
40640 and the stub has completed sending any queued events. @value{GDBN}
40641 won't accept any new notifications until the final @samp{OK} is
40642 received . If further notification events occur, the stub shall send
40643 a new notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the notification, and
40644 the process shall be repeated.
40646 The process of asynchronous notification can be illustrated by the
40649 <- @code{%%Stop:T0505:98e7ffbf;04:4ce6ffbf;08:b1b6e54c;thread:p7526.7526;core:0;}
40652 <- @code{T0505:68f37db7;04:40f37db7;08:63850408;thread:p7526.7528;core:0;}
40654 <- @code{T0505:68e3fdb6;04:40e3fdb6;08:63850408;thread:p7526.7529;core:0;}
40659 The following notifications are defined:
40660 @multitable @columnfractions 0.12 0.12 0.38 0.38
40669 @tab @var{reply}. The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
40670 described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
40671 for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
40673 @tab Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
40677 @node Remote Non-Stop
40678 @section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
40680 @value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
40681 multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
40682 supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
40683 @samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
40685 @value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
40686 establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
40687 does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
40688 must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
40689 all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
40690 probe the target state after a mode change.
40692 In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
40693 would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
40694 asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
40695 inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
40696 in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
40697 mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
40698 when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
40699 of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
40700 affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
40701 to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
40702 threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
40704 In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
40705 follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
40706 sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
40707 sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
40708 it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
40709 stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
40710 subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
40711 using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
40712 asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
40713 If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
40714 or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
40717 @node Packet Acknowledgment
40718 @section Packet Acknowledgment
40720 @cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
40721 @cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
40722 By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
40723 the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
40724 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
40725 This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
40726 unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
40728 In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
40729 TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
40730 It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
40731 overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
40732 @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
40734 When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
40735 expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
40736 and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
40737 @ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
40739 If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
40740 no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
40741 by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
40742 @pxref{qSupported}.
40743 If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
40744 disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
40745 (@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
40746 @value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
40747 Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
40748 @value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
40749 response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
40751 Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
40752 between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
40753 it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
40755 Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
40756 new connection is established,
40757 there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
40758 for the current connection, once disabled.
40763 Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
40764 does not get any direct output:
40769 @emph{target restarts}
40772 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
40776 Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
40779 -> @code{G1445@dots{}}
40784 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
40788 <- @code{1455@dots{}}
40792 @node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
40793 @section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
40794 @cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
40797 * File-I/O Overview::
40798 * Protocol Basics::
40799 * The F Request Packet::
40800 * The F Reply Packet::
40801 * The Ctrl-C Message::
40803 * List of Supported Calls::
40804 * Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
40806 * File-I/O Examples::
40809 @node File-I/O Overview
40810 @subsection File-I/O Overview
40811 @cindex file-i/o overview
40813 The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
40814 target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
40815 system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
40816 remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
40817 actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
40818 This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
40820 The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
40821 It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
40822 @value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
40823 translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
40824 protocol representations when data is transmitted.
40826 The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
40827 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
40828 or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
40829 the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
40830 memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
40831 the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
40832 (@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
40834 The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
40835 the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
40836 after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
40837 previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
40838 request from @value{GDBN} is required.
40841 (@value{GDBP}) continue
40842 <- target requests 'system call X'
40843 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
40844 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
40845 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
40846 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
40849 The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
40850 the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
40851 named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
40852 system are not supported by this protocol.
40854 File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
40856 @node Protocol Basics
40857 @subsection Protocol Basics
40858 @cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
40860 The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
40861 as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
40862 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
40863 the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
40864 of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
40865 This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
40866 to call the appropriate host system call:
40870 A unique identifier for the requested system call.
40873 All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
40874 in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
40875 pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
40876 Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
40880 At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
40884 If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
40885 system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
40886 standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
40887 expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
40891 @value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
40892 representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
40895 @value{GDBN} calls the system call.
40898 It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
40901 If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
40902 by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
40903 target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
40904 by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
40909 Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
40910 necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
40917 @code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
40924 After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
40925 the latest continue or step action.
40927 @node The F Request Packet
40928 @subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
40929 @cindex file-i/o request packet
40930 @cindex @code{F} request packet
40932 The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
40935 @item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
40937 @var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
40938 This is just the name of the function.
40940 @var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
40941 Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
40942 of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
40943 datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
40944 of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
40945 comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
40946 string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
40952 @node The F Reply Packet
40953 @subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
40954 @cindex file-i/o reply packet
40955 @cindex @code{F} reply packet
40957 The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
40961 @item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
40963 @var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
40965 @var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
40967 This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
40969 @var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
40970 case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
40971 The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
40978 or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
40985 assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
40990 @node The Ctrl-C Message
40991 @subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
40992 @cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
40994 If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
40995 reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
40996 the target should behave as if it had
40997 gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
40998 interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
40999 (as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
41002 It's important for the target to know in which
41003 state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
41007 The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
41010 The system call on the host has been finished.
41014 These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
41015 returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
41016 call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
41017 on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
41018 system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
41019 as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
41021 @value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
41022 yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
41023 @code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
41024 before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
41025 @value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
41026 The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
41027 or the full action has been completed.
41030 @subsection Console I/O
41031 @cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
41033 By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
41034 descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
41035 on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
41036 (@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
41037 by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
41038 0 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
41043 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
41045 system call is treated as finished.
41048 The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
41052 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
41053 character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
41057 If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
41058 the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
41059 either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
41060 is stopped at the user's request.
41063 @node List of Supported Calls
41064 @subsection List of Supported Calls
41065 @cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
41082 @unnumberedsubsubsec open
41083 @cindex open, file-i/o system call
41088 int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
41089 int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
41093 @samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
41096 @var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
41100 If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
41101 rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
41105 When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
41106 an error and open() fails.
41109 If the file already exists and the open mode allows
41110 writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
41111 truncated to zero length.
41114 The file is opened in append mode.
41117 The file is opened for reading only.
41120 The file is opened for writing only.
41123 The file is opened for reading and writing.
41127 Other bits are silently ignored.
41131 @var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
41135 User has read permission.
41138 User has write permission.
41141 Group has read permission.
41144 Group has write permission.
41147 Others have read permission.
41150 Others have write permission.
41154 Other bits are silently ignored.
41157 @item Return value:
41158 @code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
41165 @var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
41168 @var{pathname} refers to a directory.
41171 The requested access is not allowed.
41174 @var{pathname} was too long.
41177 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
41180 @var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
41183 @var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
41184 write access was requested.
41187 @var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
41190 No space on device to create the file.
41193 The process already has the maximum number of files open.
41196 The limit on the total number of files open on the system
41200 The call was interrupted by the user.
41206 @unnumberedsubsubsec close
41207 @cindex close, file-i/o system call
41216 @samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
41218 @item Return value:
41219 @code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
41225 @var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
41228 The call was interrupted by the user.
41234 @unnumberedsubsubsec read
41235 @cindex read, file-i/o system call
41240 int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
41244 @samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
41246 @item Return value:
41247 On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
41248 Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
41249 returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
41255 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
41259 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
41262 The call was interrupted by the user.
41268 @unnumberedsubsubsec write
41269 @cindex write, file-i/o system call
41274 int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
41278 @samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
41280 @item Return value:
41281 On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
41282 Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
41289 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
41293 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
41296 An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
41297 host-specific maximum file size allowed.
41300 No space on device to write the data.
41303 The call was interrupted by the user.
41309 @unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
41310 @cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
41315 long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
41319 @samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
41321 @var{flag} is one of:
41325 The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
41328 The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
41332 The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
41336 @item Return value:
41337 On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
41338 the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
41339 value of -1 is returned.
41345 @var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
41348 @var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
41351 @var{flag} is not a proper value.
41354 The call was interrupted by the user.
41360 @unnumberedsubsubsec rename
41361 @cindex rename, file-i/o system call
41366 int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
41370 @samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
41372 @item Return value:
41373 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
41379 @var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
41383 @var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
41386 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
41390 An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
41394 A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
41395 path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
41396 and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
41399 @var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
41402 No access to the file or the path of the file.
41406 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
41409 A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
41412 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
41415 The device containing the file has no room for the new
41419 The call was interrupted by the user.
41425 @unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
41426 @cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
41431 int unlink(const char *pathname);
41435 @samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
41437 @item Return value:
41438 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
41444 No access to the file or the path of the file.
41447 The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
41450 The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
41451 being used by another process.
41454 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
41457 @var{pathname} was too long.
41460 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
41463 A component of the path is not a directory.
41466 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
41469 The call was interrupted by the user.
41475 @unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
41476 @cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
41477 @cindex stat, file-i/o system call
41482 int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
41483 int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
41487 @samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
41488 @samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
41490 @item Return value:
41491 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
41497 @var{fd} is not a valid open file.
41500 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
41501 path is an empty string.
41504 A component of the path is not a directory.
41507 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
41510 No access to the file or the path of the file.
41513 @var{pathname} was too long.
41516 The call was interrupted by the user.
41522 @unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
41523 @cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
41528 int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
41532 @samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
41534 @item Return value:
41535 On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
41541 @var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
41544 @var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
41550 @unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
41551 @cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
41556 int isatty(int fd);
41560 @samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
41562 @item Return value:
41563 Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
41569 The call was interrupted by the user.
41574 Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
41575 1 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
41576 to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
41577 would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
41582 @unnumberedsubsubsec system
41583 @cindex system, file-i/o system call
41588 int system(const char *command);
41592 @samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
41594 @item Return value:
41595 If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
41596 available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
41597 For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
41598 return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
41599 command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
41600 return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
41601 @file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
41607 The call was interrupted by the user.
41612 @value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
41613 to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
41614 the host is simplified before it's returned
41615 to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
41616 is discarded, and the return value consists
41617 entirely of the exit status of the called command.
41619 Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
41620 by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
41621 @code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
41624 @item set remote system-call-allowed
41625 @kindex set remote system-call-allowed
41626 Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
41627 protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
41629 @item show remote system-call-allowed
41630 @kindex show remote system-call-allowed
41631 Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
41635 @node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
41636 @subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
41637 @cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
41640 * Integral Datatypes::
41642 * Memory Transfer::
41647 @node Integral Datatypes
41648 @unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
41649 @cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
41651 The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
41652 @code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
41653 @code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
41655 @code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
41656 implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
41658 @code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
41660 @xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
41661 in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
41663 @code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
41665 All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
41666 structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
41669 @node Pointer Values
41670 @unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
41671 @cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
41673 Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
41674 is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
41675 transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
41676 are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
41683 which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
41684 The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
41685 the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
41686 at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
41692 @node Memory Transfer
41693 @unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
41694 @cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
41696 Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
41697 example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
41698 with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
41699 this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
41700 packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
41701 it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
41702 data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
41706 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
41707 @cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
41709 The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
41710 is defined as follows:
41714 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
41715 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
41716 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
41717 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
41718 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
41719 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
41720 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
41721 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
41722 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
41723 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
41724 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
41725 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
41726 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
41730 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
41731 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
41732 structure is of size 64 bytes.
41734 The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
41740 A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
41743 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
41746 Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
41747 bits have currently no meaning for the target.
41752 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
41757 These values have a host and file system dependent
41758 accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
41759 support exact timing values.
41762 The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
41763 responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
41766 Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
41767 representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
41768 get truncated on the target.
41770 @node struct timeval
41771 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
41772 @cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
41774 The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
41775 is defined as follows:
41779 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
41780 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
41784 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
41785 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
41786 structure is of size 8 bytes.
41789 @subsection Constants
41790 @cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
41792 The following values are used for the constants inside of the
41793 protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
41794 values before and after the call as needed.
41805 @unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
41806 @cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
41808 All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
41820 @node mode_t Values
41821 @unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
41822 @cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
41824 All values are given in octal representation.
41841 @unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
41842 @cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
41844 All values are given in decimal representation.
41869 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
41870 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
41873 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
41874 @cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
41883 @unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
41884 @cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
41886 All values are given in decimal representation.
41889 INT_MIN -2147483648
41891 UINT_MAX 4294967295
41892 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
41893 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
41894 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
41897 @node File-I/O Examples
41898 @subsection File-I/O Examples
41899 @cindex file-i/o examples
41901 Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
41902 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
41905 <- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
41906 @emph{request memory read from target}
41909 @emph{return "6 bytes written"}
41913 Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
41914 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
41917 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
41918 @emph{request memory write to target}
41919 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
41920 @emph{return "6 bytes read"}
41924 Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
41925 file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
41928 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
41932 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
41936 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
41941 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
41945 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
41946 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
41950 @node Library List Format
41951 @section Library List Format
41952 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
41954 On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
41955 same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
41956 @value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
41957 operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
41958 platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
41959 @value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
41960 through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
41961 packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
41962 queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
41965 The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
41966 lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
41967 associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
41968 which report where the library was loaded in memory.
41970 For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
41971 library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
41972 dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
41973 should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
41974 section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
41975 depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
41977 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
41978 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
41980 A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
41981 offset, looks like this:
41985 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
41986 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
41991 Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
41992 allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
41996 <library name="sharedlib.o">
41997 <section address="0x10000000"/>
41998 <section address="0x20000000"/>
41999 <section address="0x30000000"/>
42004 The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
42007 <!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
42008 <!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
42009 <!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
42010 <!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
42011 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
42012 <!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
42013 <!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
42014 <!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
42015 <!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
42018 In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
42019 single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
42020 section for each library.
42022 @node Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
42023 @section Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
42024 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
42026 On SVR4 platforms @value{GDBN} can use the symbol table of a dynamic loader
42027 (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) and normal memory operations to maintain a list of
42028 shared libraries. Still a special library list provided by this packet is
42029 more efficient for the @value{GDBN} remote protocol.
42031 The @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet returns an XML document which lists
42032 loaded libraries and their SVR4 linker parameters. For each library on SVR4
42033 target, the following parameters are reported:
42037 @code{name}, the absolute file name from the @code{l_name} field of
42038 @code{struct link_map}.
42040 @code{lm} with address of @code{struct link_map} used for TLS
42041 (Thread Local Storage) access.
42043 @code{l_addr}, the displacement as read from the field @code{l_addr} of
42044 @code{struct link_map}. For prelinked libraries this is not an absolute
42045 memory address. It is a displacement of absolute memory address against
42046 address the file was prelinked to during the library load.
42048 @code{l_ld}, which is memory address of the @code{PT_DYNAMIC} segment
42051 Additionally the single @code{main-lm} attribute specifies address of
42052 @code{struct link_map} used for the main executable. This parameter is used
42053 for TLS access and its presence is optional.
42055 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
42056 SVR4 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
42058 A simple memory map, with two loaded libraries (which do not use prelink),
42062 <library-list-svr4 version="1.0" main-lm="0xe4f8f8">
42063 <library name="/lib/ld-linux.so.2" lm="0xe4f51c" l_addr="0xe2d000"
42065 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6" lm="0xe4fbe8" l_addr="0x154000"
42067 </library-list-svr>
42070 The format of an SVR4 library list is described by this DTD:
42073 <!-- library-list-svr4: Root element with versioning -->
42074 <!ELEMENT library-list-svr4 (library)*>
42075 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
42076 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 main-lm CDATA #IMPLIED>
42077 <!ELEMENT library EMPTY>
42078 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
42079 <!ATTLIST library lm CDATA #REQUIRED>
42080 <!ATTLIST library l_addr CDATA #REQUIRED>
42081 <!ATTLIST library l_ld CDATA #REQUIRED>
42084 @node Memory Map Format
42085 @section Memory Map Format
42086 @cindex memory map format
42088 To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
42089 memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
42092 The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
42093 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
42094 lists memory regions.
42096 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
42097 memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
42099 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
42102 <?xml version="1.0"?>
42103 <!DOCTYPE memory-map
42104 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
42105 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
42111 Each region can be either:
42116 A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
42120 <memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
42125 A region of read-only memory:
42128 <memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
42133 A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
42137 <memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
42138 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
42144 Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
42145 by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
42146 packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
42148 The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
42151 <!-- ................................................... -->
42152 <!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
42153 <!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
42154 <!-- .................................... .............. -->
42155 <!-- memory-map.dtd -->
42156 <!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
42157 <!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
42158 <!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
42159 <!ELEMENT memory (property)>
42160 <!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
42161 and its type, or device. -->
42162 <!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
42163 start CDATA #REQUIRED
42164 length CDATA #REQUIRED
42165 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
42166 <!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
42167 <!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
42168 <!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
42171 @node Thread List Format
42172 @section Thread List Format
42173 @cindex thread list format
42175 To efficiently update the list of threads and their attributes,
42176 @value{GDBN} issues the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
42177 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}) and obtains the XML document with
42178 the following structure:
42181 <?xml version="1.0"?>
42183 <thread id="id" core="0">
42184 ... description ...
42189 Each @samp{thread} element must have the @samp{id} attribute that
42190 identifies the thread (@pxref{thread-id syntax}). The
42191 @samp{core} attribute, if present, specifies which processor core
42192 the thread was last executing on. The content of the of @samp{thread}
42193 element is interpreted as human-readable auxilliary information.
42195 @node Traceframe Info Format
42196 @section Traceframe Info Format
42197 @cindex traceframe info format
42199 To be able to know which objects in the inferior can be examined when
42200 inspecting a tracepoint hit, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of
42201 memory ranges, registers and trace state variables that have been
42202 collected in a traceframe.
42204 This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
42205 (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}) packet and is an XML document.
42207 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
42208 traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
42210 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
42213 <?xml version="1.0"?>
42214 <!DOCTYPE traceframe-info
42215 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
42216 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-traceframe-info.dtd">
42222 Each traceframe block can be either:
42227 A region of collected memory starting at @var{addr} and extending for
42228 @var{length} bytes from there:
42231 <memory start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
42235 A block indicating trace state variable numbered @var{number} has been
42239 <tvar id="@var{number}"/>
42244 The formal DTD for the traceframe info format is given below:
42247 <!ELEMENT traceframe-info (memory | tvar)* >
42248 <!ATTLIST traceframe-info version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
42250 <!ELEMENT memory EMPTY>
42251 <!ATTLIST memory start CDATA #REQUIRED
42252 length CDATA #REQUIRED>
42254 <!ATTLIST tvar id CDATA #REQUIRED>
42257 @node Branch Trace Format
42258 @section Branch Trace Format
42259 @cindex branch trace format
42261 In order to display the branch trace of an inferior thread,
42262 @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of branches. This list is
42263 represented as list of sequential code blocks that are connected via
42264 branches. The code in each block has been executed sequentially.
42266 This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
42267 (@pxref{qXfer btrace read}) packet and is an XML document.
42269 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
42270 traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
42272 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
42275 <?xml version="1.0"?>
42277 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Branch Trace V1.0//EN"
42278 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-btrace.dtd">
42287 A block of sequentially executed instructions starting at @var{begin}
42288 and ending at @var{end}:
42291 <block begin="@var{begin}" end="@var{end}"/>
42296 The formal DTD for the branch trace format is given below:
42299 <!ELEMENT btrace (block)* >
42300 <!ATTLIST btrace version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
42302 <!ELEMENT block EMPTY>
42303 <!ATTLIST block begin CDATA #REQUIRED
42304 end CDATA #REQUIRED>
42307 @include agentexpr.texi
42309 @node Target Descriptions
42310 @appendix Target Descriptions
42311 @cindex target descriptions
42313 One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
42314 is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
42315 architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
42316 a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or @acronym{MIPS}, for example ---
42317 and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
42318 architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
42319 vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
42323 With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
42324 the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
42326 Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
42327 audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
42328 variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
42330 When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
42331 at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
42332 @command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
42335 To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
42336 target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
42337 actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
42338 processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
42339 descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
42341 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
42342 target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
42345 * Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
42346 * Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
42347 * Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
42349 * Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
42352 @node Retrieving Descriptions
42353 @section Retrieving Descriptions
42355 Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
42356 specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
42357 description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
42358 protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
42359 qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
42360 @samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
42361 XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
42364 Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
42365 If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
42366 specify a file are:
42369 @cindex set tdesc filename
42370 @item set tdesc filename @var{path}
42371 Read the target description from @var{path}.
42373 @cindex unset tdesc filename
42374 @item unset tdesc filename
42375 Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
42376 will use the description supplied by the current target.
42378 @cindex show tdesc filename
42379 @item show tdesc filename
42380 Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
42384 @node Target Description Format
42385 @section Target Description Format
42386 @cindex target descriptions, XML format
42388 A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
42389 document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
42390 the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
42391 means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
42392 check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
42393 However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
42394 their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
42396 Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
42397 and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
42398 sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
42399 @value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
42400 target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
42402 Here is a simple target description:
42405 <target version="1.0">
42406 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
42411 This minimal description only says that the target uses
42412 the x86-64 architecture.
42414 A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
42415 optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
42416 are explained further below.
42419 <?xml version="1.0"?>
42420 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
42421 <target version="1.0">
42422 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
42423 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
42424 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
42425 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
42430 The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
42431 breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
42432 declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
42433 (@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
42434 useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
42435 @samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
42436 including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
42437 revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
42438 the version mismatch.
42440 @subsection Inclusion
42441 @cindex target descriptions, inclusion
42444 @cindex <xi:include>
42447 It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
42448 several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
42449 share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
42450 divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
42451 the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
42454 <xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
42458 When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
42459 the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
42460 the contents of that document. If the current description was read
42461 using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
42462 @var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
42463 current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
42464 @var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
42465 original description.
42467 @subsection Architecture
42468 @cindex <architecture>
42470 An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
42473 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
42476 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
42477 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
42480 @cindex @code{<osabi>}
42482 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
42483 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
42485 An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
42488 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
42491 @var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
42492 @w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
42494 @subsection Compatible Architecture
42495 @cindex @code{<compatible>}
42497 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
42498 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
42500 A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
42503 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
42506 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
42507 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
42509 A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
42510 is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
42511 given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
42512 Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
42513 or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
42514 in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
42515 capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
42518 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
42519 <compatible>spu</compatible>
42522 @subsection Features
42525 Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
42526 system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
42527 registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
42531 <feature name="@var{name}">
42532 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
42538 Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
42539 of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
42540 knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
42541 should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
42545 Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
42546 interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
42547 but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
42548 Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
42549 Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
42551 Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
42552 a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
42553 Types must be defined before they are used.
42556 Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
42557 of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
42558 specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
42562 <vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
42566 If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
42567 with a union type containing the useful representations. The
42568 @samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
42569 each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
42572 <union id="@var{id}">
42573 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
42579 If a register's value is composed from several separate values, define
42580 it with a structure type. There are two forms of the @samp{<struct>}
42581 element; a @samp{<struct>} element must either contain only bitfields
42582 or contain no bitfields. If the structure contains only bitfields,
42583 its total size in bytes must be specified, each bitfield must have an
42584 explicit start and end, and bitfields are automatically assigned an
42585 integer type. The field's @var{start} should be less than or
42586 equal to its @var{end}, and zero represents the least significant bit.
42589 <struct id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
42590 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
42595 If the structure contains no bitfields, then each field has an
42596 explicit type, and no implicit padding is added.
42599 <struct id="@var{id}">
42600 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
42606 If a register's value is a series of single-bit flags, define it with
42607 a flags type. The @samp{<flags>} element has an explicit @var{size}
42608 and contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements. Each field has a
42609 @var{name}, a @var{start}, and an @var{end}. Only single-bit flags
42613 <flags id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
42614 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
42619 @subsection Registers
42622 Each register is represented as an element with this form:
42625 <reg name="@var{name}"
42626 bitsize="@var{size}"
42627 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
42628 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
42629 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
42630 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
42634 The components are as follows:
42639 The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
42642 The register's size, in bits.
42645 The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
42646 than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
42647 a preceding feature); the first register in the target description
42648 defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
42649 the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
42650 packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
42651 in order of increasing register number.
42654 Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
42655 calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
42656 @code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
42657 some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
42661 The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
42662 defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
42663 and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
42664 for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
42665 architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
42666 @var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
42669 The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
42670 be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
42671 @var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
42672 in @code{info registers}.
42676 @node Predefined Target Types
42677 @section Predefined Target Types
42678 @cindex target descriptions, predefined types
42680 Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
42681 from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
42682 standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
42683 types. The currently supported types are:
42692 Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
42699 Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
42703 Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
42704 any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
42705 pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
42706 address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
42707 may be marked as data pointers.
42710 Single precision IEEE floating point.
42713 Double precision IEEE floating point.
42716 The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
42719 The 10-byte extended precision format used by x87 registers.
42722 32bit @sc{eflags} register used by x86.
42725 32bit @sc{mxcsr} register used by x86.
42729 @node Standard Target Features
42730 @section Standard Target Features
42731 @cindex target descriptions, standard features
42733 A target description must contain either no registers or all the
42734 target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
42735 @value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
42736 the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
42737 default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
42738 described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
42739 can recognize them.
42741 This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
42742 which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
42743 with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
42744 if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
42745 feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
42746 description. You can add additional registers to any of the
42747 standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
42748 they were added to an unrecognized feature.
42750 This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
42751 Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
42752 @value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
42754 Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
42755 company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
42756 architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
42757 containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
42759 The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
42760 of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
42761 registers using the capitalization used in the description.
42764 * AArch64 Features::
42769 * Nios II Features::
42770 * PowerPC Features::
42771 * S/390 and System z Features::
42776 @node AArch64 Features
42777 @subsection AArch64 Features
42778 @cindex target descriptions, AArch64 features
42780 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.aarch64.core} feature is required for AArch64
42781 targets. It should contain registers @samp{x0} through @samp{x30},
42782 @samp{sp}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
42784 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.aarch64.fpu} feature is optional. If present,
42785 it should contain registers @samp{v0} through @samp{v31}, @samp{fpsr},
42789 @subsection ARM Features
42790 @cindex target descriptions, ARM features
42792 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for non-M-profile
42794 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
42795 @samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
42797 For M-profile targets (e.g. Cortex-M3), the @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}
42798 feature is replaced by @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.m-profile}. It should contain
42799 registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp}, @samp{lr}, @samp{pc},
42802 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
42803 should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
42805 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
42806 it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
42807 @samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
42808 @samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
42810 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
42811 should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
42812 they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
42813 @value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
42814 halves of the double-precision registers.
42816 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
42817 need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
42818 VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
42819 quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
42820 If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
42821 be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
42823 @node i386 Features
42824 @subsection i386 Features
42825 @cindex target descriptions, i386 features
42827 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.core} feature is required for i386/amd64
42828 targets. It should describe the following registers:
42832 @samp{eax} through @samp{edi} plus @samp{eip} for i386
42834 @samp{rax} through @samp{r15} plus @samp{rip} for amd64
42836 @samp{eflags}, @samp{cs}, @samp{ss}, @samp{ds}, @samp{es},
42837 @samp{fs}, @samp{gs}
42839 @samp{st0} through @samp{st7}
42841 @samp{fctrl}, @samp{fstat}, @samp{ftag}, @samp{fiseg}, @samp{fioff},
42842 @samp{foseg}, @samp{fooff} and @samp{fop}
42845 The register sets may be different, depending on the target.
42847 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature is optional. It should
42848 describe registers:
42852 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm7} for i386
42854 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm15} for amd64
42859 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature is optional and requires the
42860 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature. It should
42861 describe the upper 128 bits of @sc{ymm} registers:
42865 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm7h} for i386
42867 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm15h} for amd64
42870 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.linux} feature is optional. It should
42871 describe a single register, @samp{orig_eax}.
42873 @node MIPS Features
42874 @subsection @acronym{MIPS} Features
42875 @cindex target descriptions, @acronym{MIPS} features
42877 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for @acronym{MIPS} targets.
42878 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
42879 @samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
42882 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
42883 contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
42884 registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
42886 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
42887 it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
42888 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
42889 @samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
42891 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.dsp} feature is optional. It should
42892 contain registers @samp{hi1} through @samp{hi3}, @samp{lo1} through
42893 @samp{lo3}, and @samp{dspctl}. The @samp{dspctl} register should
42894 be 32-bit and the rest may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
42896 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
42897 contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
42898 Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
42900 @node M68K Features
42901 @subsection M68K Features
42902 @cindex target descriptions, M68K features
42905 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
42906 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
42907 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
42908 One of those features must be always present.
42909 The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
42910 used. The feature that is present should contain registers
42911 @samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
42912 @samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
42914 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
42915 This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
42916 @samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
42920 @node Nios II Features
42921 @subsection Nios II Features
42922 @cindex target descriptions, Nios II features
42924 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.nios2.cpu} feature is required for Nios II
42925 targets. It should contain the 32 core registers (@samp{zero},
42926 @samp{at}, @samp{r2} through @samp{r23}, @samp{et} through @samp{ra}),
42927 @samp{pc}, and the 16 control registers (@samp{status} through
42930 @node PowerPC Features
42931 @subsection PowerPC Features
42932 @cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
42934 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
42935 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
42936 @samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
42937 @samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
42939 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
42940 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
42942 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
42943 contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
42946 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
42947 contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
42948 will combine these registers with the floating point registers
42949 (@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
42950 through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
42951 through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
42953 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
42954 contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
42955 @samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
42956 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
42957 @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
42958 these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
42961 @node S/390 and System z Features
42962 @subsection S/390 and System z Features
42963 @cindex target descriptions, S/390 features
42964 @cindex target descriptions, System z features
42966 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.core} feature is required for S/390 and
42967 System z targets. It should contain the PSW and the 16 general
42968 registers. In particular, System z targets should provide the 64-bit
42969 registers @samp{pswm}, @samp{pswa}, and @samp{r0} through @samp{r15}.
42970 S/390 targets should provide the 32-bit versions of these registers.
42971 A System z target that runs in 31-bit addressing mode should provide
42972 32-bit versions of @samp{pswm} and @samp{pswa}, as well as the general
42973 register's upper halves @samp{r0h} through @samp{r15h}, and their
42974 lower halves @samp{r0l} through @samp{r15l}.
42976 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.fpr} feature is required. It should
42977 contain the 64-bit registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f15}, and
42980 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.acr} feature is required. It should
42981 contain the 32-bit registers @samp{acr0} through @samp{acr15}.
42983 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.linux} feature is optional. It should
42984 contain the register @samp{orig_r2}, which is 64-bit wide on System z
42985 targets and 32-bit otherwise. In addition, the feature may contain
42986 the @samp{last_break} register, whose width depends on the addressing
42987 mode, as well as the @samp{system_call} register, which is always
42990 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.tdb} feature is optional. It should
42991 contain the 64-bit registers @samp{tdb0}, @samp{tac}, @samp{tct},
42992 @samp{atia}, and @samp{tr0} through @samp{tr15}.
42994 @node TIC6x Features
42995 @subsection TMS320C6x Features
42996 @cindex target descriptions, TIC6x features
42997 @cindex target descriptions, TMS320C6x features
42998 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.core} feature is required for TMS320C6x
42999 targets. It should contain registers @samp{A0} through @samp{A15},
43000 registers @samp{B0} through @samp{B15}, @samp{CSR} and @samp{PC}.
43002 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.gp} feature is optional. It should
43003 contain registers @samp{A16} through @samp{A31} and @samp{B16}
43004 through @samp{B31}.
43006 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.c6xp} feature is optional. It should
43007 contain registers @samp{TSR}, @samp{ILC} and @samp{RILC}.
43009 @node Operating System Information
43010 @appendix Operating System Information
43011 @cindex operating system information
43017 Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
43018 the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
43019 processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
43020 mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
43021 target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
43022 on a different aspect of target.
43024 Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
43025 remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
43026 read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
43027 the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
43030 @appendixsection Process list
43031 @cindex operating system information, process list
43033 When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
43034 @samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
43035 an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
43036 @file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
43038 An example document is:
43041 <?xml version="1.0"?>
43042 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
43043 <osdata type="processes">
43045 <column name="pid">1</column>
43046 <column name="user">root</column>
43047 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
43048 <column name="cores">1,2,3</column>
43053 Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
43054 of that column should identify the process on the target. The
43055 @samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
43056 displayed by @value{GDBN}. The @samp{cores} column, if present,
43057 should contain a comma-separated list of cores that this process
43058 is running on. Target may provide additional columns,
43059 which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
43061 @node Trace File Format
43062 @appendix Trace File Format
43063 @cindex trace file format
43065 The trace file comes in three parts: a header, a textual description
43066 section, and a trace frame section with binary data.
43068 The header has the form @code{\x7fTRACE0\n}. The first byte is
43069 @code{0x7f} so as to indicate that the file contains binary data,
43070 while the @code{0} is a version number that may have different values
43073 The description section consists of multiple lines of @sc{ascii} text
43074 separated by newline characters (@code{0xa}). The lines may include a
43075 variety of optional descriptive or context-setting information, such
43076 as tracepoint definitions or register set size. @value{GDBN} will
43077 ignore any line that it does not recognize. An empty line marks the end
43080 @c FIXME add some specific types of data
43082 The trace frame section consists of a number of consecutive frames.
43083 Each frame begins with a two-byte tracepoint number, followed by a
43084 four-byte size giving the amount of data in the frame. The data in
43085 the frame consists of a number of blocks, each introduced by a
43086 character indicating its type (at least register, memory, and trace
43087 state variable). The data in this section is raw binary, not a
43088 hexadecimal or other encoding; its endianness matches the target's
43091 @c FIXME bi-arch may require endianness/arch info in description section
43094 @item R @var{bytes}
43095 Register block. The number and ordering of bytes matches that of a
43096 @code{g} packet in the remote protocol. Note that these are the
43097 actual bytes, in target order and @value{GDBN} register order, not a
43098 hexadecimal encoding.
43100 @item M @var{address} @var{length} @var{bytes}...
43101 Memory block. This is a contiguous block of memory, at the 8-byte
43102 address @var{address}, with a 2-byte length @var{length}, followed by
43103 @var{length} bytes.
43105 @item V @var{number} @var{value}
43106 Trace state variable block. This records the 8-byte signed value
43107 @var{value} of trace state variable numbered @var{number}.
43111 Future enhancements of the trace file format may include additional types
43114 @node Index Section Format
43115 @appendix @code{.gdb_index} section format
43116 @cindex .gdb_index section format
43117 @cindex index section format
43119 This section documents the index section that is created by @code{save
43120 gdb-index} (@pxref{Index Files}). The index section is
43121 DWARF-specific; some knowledge of DWARF is assumed in this
43124 The mapped index file format is designed to be directly
43125 @code{mmap}able on any architecture. In most cases, a datum is
43126 represented using a little-endian 32-bit integer value, called an
43127 @code{offset_type}. Big endian machines must byte-swap the values
43128 before using them. Exceptions to this rule are noted. The data is
43129 laid out such that alignment is always respected.
43131 A mapped index consists of several areas, laid out in order.
43135 The file header. This is a sequence of values, of @code{offset_type}
43136 unless otherwise noted:
43140 The version number, currently 8. Versions 1, 2 and 3 are obsolete.
43141 Version 4 uses a different hashing function from versions 5 and 6.
43142 Version 6 includes symbols for inlined functions, whereas versions 4
43143 and 5 do not. Version 7 adds attributes to the CU indices in the
43144 symbol table. Version 8 specifies that symbols from DWARF type units
43145 (@samp{DW_TAG_type_unit}) refer to the type unit's symbol table and not the
43146 compilation unit (@samp{DW_TAG_comp_unit}) using the type.
43148 @value{GDBN} will only read version 4, 5, or 6 indices
43149 by specifying @code{set use-deprecated-index-sections on}.
43150 GDB has a workaround for potentially broken version 7 indices so it is
43151 currently not flagged as deprecated.
43154 The offset, from the start of the file, of the CU list.
43157 The offset, from the start of the file, of the types CU list. Note
43158 that this area can be empty, in which case this offset will be equal
43159 to the next offset.
43162 The offset, from the start of the file, of the address area.
43165 The offset, from the start of the file, of the symbol table.
43168 The offset, from the start of the file, of the constant pool.
43172 The CU list. This is a sequence of pairs of 64-bit little-endian
43173 values, sorted by the CU offset. The first element in each pair is
43174 the offset of a CU in the @code{.debug_info} section. The second
43175 element in each pair is the length of that CU. References to a CU
43176 elsewhere in the map are done using a CU index, which is just the
43177 0-based index into this table. Note that if there are type CUs, then
43178 conceptually CUs and type CUs form a single list for the purposes of
43182 The types CU list. This is a sequence of triplets of 64-bit
43183 little-endian values. In a triplet, the first value is the CU offset,
43184 the second value is the type offset in the CU, and the third value is
43185 the type signature. The types CU list is not sorted.
43188 The address area. The address area consists of a sequence of address
43189 entries. Each address entry has three elements:
43193 The low address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value.
43196 The high address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value. Like
43197 @code{DW_AT_high_pc}, the value is one byte beyond the end.
43200 The CU index. This is an @code{offset_type} value.
43204 The symbol table. This is an open-addressed hash table. The size of
43205 the hash table is always a power of 2.
43207 Each slot in the hash table consists of a pair of @code{offset_type}
43208 values. The first value is the offset of the symbol's name in the
43209 constant pool. The second value is the offset of the CU vector in the
43212 If both values are 0, then this slot in the hash table is empty. This
43213 is ok because while 0 is a valid constant pool index, it cannot be a
43214 valid index for both a string and a CU vector.
43216 The hash value for a table entry is computed by applying an
43217 iterative hash function to the symbol's name. Starting with an
43218 initial value of @code{r = 0}, each (unsigned) character @samp{c} in
43219 the string is incorporated into the hash using the formula depending on the
43224 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + c - 113}.
43226 @item Versions 5 to 7
43227 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + tolower (c) - 113}.
43230 The terminating @samp{\0} is not incorporated into the hash.
43232 The step size used in the hash table is computed via
43233 @code{((hash * 17) & (size - 1)) | 1}, where @samp{hash} is the hash
43234 value, and @samp{size} is the size of the hash table. The step size
43235 is used to find the next candidate slot when handling a hash
43238 The names of C@t{++} symbols in the hash table are canonicalized. We
43239 don't currently have a simple description of the canonicalization
43240 algorithm; if you intend to create new index sections, you must read
43244 The constant pool. This is simply a bunch of bytes. It is organized
43245 so that alignment is correct: CU vectors are stored first, followed by
43248 A CU vector in the constant pool is a sequence of @code{offset_type}
43249 values. The first value is the number of CU indices in the vector.
43250 Each subsequent value is the index and symbol attributes of a CU in
43251 the CU list. This element in the hash table is used to indicate which
43252 CUs define the symbol and how the symbol is used.
43253 See below for the format of each CU index+attributes entry.
43255 A string in the constant pool is zero-terminated.
43258 Attributes were added to CU index values in @code{.gdb_index} version 7.
43259 If a symbol has multiple uses within a CU then there is one
43260 CU index+attributes value for each use.
43262 The format of each CU index+attributes entry is as follows
43268 This is the index of the CU in the CU list.
43270 These bits are reserved for future purposes and must be zero.
43272 The kind of the symbol in the CU.
43276 This value is reserved and should not be used.
43277 By reserving zero the full @code{offset_type} value is backwards compatible
43278 with previous versions of the index.
43280 The symbol is a type.
43282 The symbol is a variable or an enum value.
43284 The symbol is a function.
43286 Any other kind of symbol.
43288 These values are reserved.
43292 This bit is zero if the value is global and one if it is static.
43294 The determination of whether a symbol is global or static is complicated.
43295 The authorative reference is the file @file{dwarf2read.c} in
43296 @value{GDBN} sources.
43300 This pseudo-code describes the computation of a symbol's kind and
43301 global/static attributes in the index.
43304 is_external = get_attribute (die, DW_AT_external);
43305 language = get_attribute (cu_die, DW_AT_language);
43308 case DW_TAG_typedef:
43309 case DW_TAG_base_type:
43310 case DW_TAG_subrange_type:
43314 case DW_TAG_enumerator:
43316 is_static = (language != CPLUS && language != JAVA);
43318 case DW_TAG_subprogram:
43320 is_static = ! (is_external || language == ADA);
43322 case DW_TAG_constant:
43324 is_static = ! is_external;
43326 case DW_TAG_variable:
43328 is_static = ! is_external;
43330 case DW_TAG_namespace:
43334 case DW_TAG_class_type:
43335 case DW_TAG_interface_type:
43336 case DW_TAG_structure_type:
43337 case DW_TAG_union_type:
43338 case DW_TAG_enumeration_type:
43340 is_static = (language != CPLUS && language != JAVA);
43348 @appendix Manual pages
43352 * gdb man:: The GNU Debugger man page
43353 * gdbserver man:: Remote Server for the GNU Debugger man page
43354 * gcore man:: Generate a core file of a running program
43355 * gdbinit man:: gdbinit scripts
43361 @c man title gdb The GNU Debugger
43363 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gdb
43364 gdb [@option{-help}] [@option{-nh}] [@option{-nx}] [@option{-q}]
43365 [@option{-batch}] [@option{-cd=}@var{dir}] [@option{-f}]
43366 [@option{-b}@w{ }@var{bps}]
43367 [@option{-tty=}@var{dev}] [@option{-s} @var{symfile}]
43368 [@option{-e}@w{ }@var{prog}] [@option{-se}@w{ }@var{prog}]
43369 [@option{-c}@w{ }@var{core}] [@option{-p}@w{ }@var{procID}]
43370 [@option{-x}@w{ }@var{cmds}] [@option{-d}@w{ }@var{dir}]
43371 [@var{prog}|@var{prog} @var{procID}|@var{prog} @var{core}]
43374 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gdb
43375 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
43376 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes -- or what another
43377 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
43379 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
43380 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
43384 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
43387 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
43390 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
43393 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
43394 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
43397 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C, C@t{++}, Fortran and
43400 @value{GDBN} is invoked with the shell command @code{gdb}. Once started, it reads
43401 commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit with the @value{GDBN}
43402 command @code{quit}. You can get online help from @value{GDBN} itself
43403 by using the command @code{help}.
43405 You can run @code{gdb} with no arguments or options; but the most
43406 usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument or two, specifying an
43407 executable program as the argument:
43413 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file specified:
43419 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
43420 to debug a running process:
43428 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
43429 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
43430 With option @option{-p} you can omit the @var{program} filename.
43432 Here are some of the most frequently needed @value{GDBN} commands:
43434 @c pod2man highlights the right hand side of the @item lines.
43436 @item break [@var{file}:]@var{functiop}
43437 Set a breakpoint at @var{function} (in @var{file}).
43439 @item run [@var{arglist}]
43440 Start your program (with @var{arglist}, if specified).
43443 Backtrace: display the program stack.
43445 @item print @var{expr}
43446 Display the value of an expression.
43449 Continue running your program (after stopping, e.g. at a breakpoint).
43452 Execute next program line (after stopping); step @emph{over} any
43453 function calls in the line.
43455 @item edit [@var{file}:]@var{function}
43456 look at the program line where it is presently stopped.
43458 @item list [@var{file}:]@var{function}
43459 type the text of the program in the vicinity of where it is presently stopped.
43462 Execute next program line (after stopping); step @emph{into} any
43463 function calls in the line.
43465 @item help [@var{name}]
43466 Show information about @value{GDBN} command @var{name}, or general information
43467 about using @value{GDBN}.
43470 Exit from @value{GDBN}.
43474 For full details on @value{GDBN},
43475 see @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
43476 by Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch. The same text is available online
43477 as the @code{gdb} entry in the @code{info} program.
43481 @c man begin OPTIONS gdb
43482 Any arguments other than options specify an executable
43483 file and core file (or process ID); that is, the first argument
43484 encountered with no
43485 associated option flag is equivalent to a @option{-se} option, and the second,
43486 if any, is equivalent to a @option{-c} option if it's the name of a file.
43488 both long and short forms; both are shown here. The long forms are also
43489 recognized if you truncate them, so long as enough of the option is
43490 present to be unambiguous. (If you prefer, you can flag option
43491 arguments with @option{+} rather than @option{-}, though we illustrate the
43492 more usual convention.)
43494 All the options and command line arguments you give are processed
43495 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the @option{-x}
43501 List all options, with brief explanations.
43503 @item -symbols=@var{file}
43504 @itemx -s @var{file}
43505 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
43508 Enable writing into executable and core files.
43510 @item -exec=@var{file}
43511 @itemx -e @var{file}
43512 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when
43513 appropriate, and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core
43516 @item -se=@var{file}
43517 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
43520 @item -core=@var{file}
43521 @itemx -c @var{file}
43522 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
43524 @item -command=@var{file}
43525 @itemx -x @var{file}
43526 Execute @value{GDBN} commands from file @var{file}.
43528 @item -ex @var{command}
43529 Execute given @value{GDBN} @var{command}.
43531 @item -directory=@var{directory}
43532 @itemx -d @var{directory}
43533 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source files.
43536 Do not execute commands from @file{~/.gdbinit}.
43540 Do not execute commands from any @file{.gdbinit} initialization files.
43544 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
43545 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
43548 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the command
43549 files specified with @option{-x} (and @file{.gdbinit}, if not inhibited).
43550 Exit with nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN}
43551 commands in the command files.
43553 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for example to
43554 download and run a program on another computer; in order to make this
43555 more useful, the message
43558 Program exited normally.
43562 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under @value{GDBN} control
43563 terminates) is not issued when running in batch mode.
43565 @item -cd=@var{directory}
43566 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
43567 instead of the current directory.
43571 Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells
43572 @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line number in a standard,
43573 recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is displayed (which
43574 includes each time the program stops). This recognizable format looks
43575 like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by the file name, line number
43576 and character position separated by colons, and a newline. The
43577 Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two @samp{\032}
43578 characters as a signal to display the source code for the frame.
43581 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
43582 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
43584 @item -tty=@var{device}
43585 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
43589 @c man begin SEEALSO gdb
43591 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
43592 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
43593 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
43600 should give you access to the complete manual.
43602 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
43603 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
43607 @node gdbserver man
43608 @heading gdbserver man
43610 @c man title gdbserver Remote Server for the GNU Debugger
43612 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gdbserver
43613 gdbserver @var{comm} @var{prog} [@var{args}@dots{}]
43615 gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
43617 gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
43621 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gdbserver
43622 @command{gdbserver} is a program that allows you to run @value{GDBN} on a different machine
43623 than the one which is running the program being debugged.
43626 @subheading Usage (server (target) side)
43629 Usage (server (target) side):
43632 First, you need to have a copy of the program you want to debug put onto
43633 the target system. The program can be stripped to save space if needed, as
43634 @command{gdbserver} doesn't care about symbols. All symbol handling is taken care of by
43635 the @value{GDBN} running on the host system.
43637 To use the server, you log on to the target system, and run the @command{gdbserver}
43638 program. You must tell it (a) how to communicate with @value{GDBN}, (b) the name of
43639 your program, and (c) its arguments. The general syntax is:
43642 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [@var{args} ...]
43645 For example, using a serial port, you might say:
43649 @c @file would wrap it as F</dev/com1>.
43650 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
43653 target> gdbserver @file{/dev/com1} emacs foo.txt
43657 This tells @command{gdbserver} to debug emacs with an argument of foo.txt, and
43658 to communicate with @value{GDBN} via @file{/dev/com1}. @command{gdbserver} now
43659 waits patiently for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate with it.
43661 To use a TCP connection, you could say:
43664 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
43667 This says pretty much the same thing as the last example, except that we are
43668 going to communicate with the @code{host} @value{GDBN} via TCP. The @code{host:2345} argument means
43669 that we are expecting to see a TCP connection from @code{host} to local TCP port
43670 2345. (Currently, the @code{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number you
43671 want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any existing TCP
43672 ports on the target system. This same port number must be used in the host
43673 @value{GDBN}s @code{target remote} command, which will be described shortly. Note that if
43674 you chose a port number that conflicts with another service, @command{gdbserver} will
43675 print an error message and exit.
43677 @command{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
43678 This is accomplished via the @option{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
43681 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
43684 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't
43685 necessary to point @command{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
43687 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
43688 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
43689 In such case you should connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} to start
43690 the program you want to debug.
43693 target> gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
43697 @subheading Usage (host side)
43703 You need an unstripped copy of the target program on your host system, since
43704 @value{GDBN} needs to examine it's symbol tables and such. Start up @value{GDBN} as you normally
43705 would, with the target program as the first argument. (You may need to use the
43706 @option{--baud} option if the serial line is running at anything except 9600 baud.)
43707 That is @code{gdb TARGET-PROG}, or @code{gdb --baud BAUD TARGET-PROG}. After that, the only
43708 new command you need to know about is @code{target remote}
43709 (or @code{target extended-remote}). Its argument is either
43710 a device name (usually a serial device, like @file{/dev/ttyb}), or a @code{HOST:PORT}
43711 descriptor. For example:
43715 @c @file would wrap it as F</dev/ttyb>.
43716 (gdb) target remote /dev/ttyb
43719 (gdb) target remote @file{/dev/ttyb}
43724 communicates with the server via serial line @file{/dev/ttyb}, and:
43727 (gdb) target remote the-target:2345
43731 communicates via a TCP connection to port 2345 on host `the-target', where
43732 you previously started up @command{gdbserver} with the same port number. Note that for
43733 TCP connections, you must start up @command{gdbserver} prior to using the `target remote'
43734 command, otherwise you may get an error that looks something like
43735 `Connection refused'.
43737 @command{gdbserver} can also debug multiple inferiors at once,
43740 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Inferiors and Programs}
43741 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'Inferiors and Programs'}.
43744 @ref{Inferiors and Programs}.
43746 In such case use the @code{extended-remote} @value{GDBN} command variant:
43749 (gdb) target extended-remote the-target:2345
43752 The @command{gdbserver} option @option{--multi} may or may not be used in such
43756 @c man begin OPTIONS gdbserver
43757 There are three different modes for invoking @command{gdbserver}:
43762 Debug a specific program specified by its program name:
43765 gdbserver @var{comm} @var{prog} [@var{args}@dots{}]
43768 The @var{comm} parameter specifies how should the server communicate
43769 with @value{GDBN}; it is either a device name (to use a serial line),
43770 a TCP port number (@code{:1234}), or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
43771 stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}. Specify the name of the program to
43772 debug in @var{prog}. Any remaining arguments will be passed to the
43773 program verbatim. When the program exits, @value{GDBN} will close the
43774 connection, and @code{gdbserver} will exit.
43777 Debug a specific program by specifying the process ID of a running
43781 gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
43784 The @var{comm} parameter is as described above. Supply the process ID
43785 of a running program in @var{pid}; @value{GDBN} will do everything
43786 else. Like with the previous mode, when the process @var{pid} exits,
43787 @value{GDBN} will close the connection, and @code{gdbserver} will exit.
43790 Multi-process mode -- debug more than one program/process:
43793 gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
43796 In this mode, @value{GDBN} can instruct @command{gdbserver} which
43797 command(s) to run. Unlike the other 2 modes, @value{GDBN} will not
43798 close the connection when a process being debugged exits, so you can
43799 debug several processes in the same session.
43802 In each of the modes you may specify these options:
43807 List all options, with brief explanations.
43810 This option causes @command{gdbserver} to print its version number and exit.
43813 @command{gdbserver} will attach to a running program. The syntax is:
43816 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
43819 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't
43820 necessary to point @command{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
43823 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
43824 or process ID to attach, use this command line option.
43825 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
43826 the program you want to debug. The syntax is:
43829 target> gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
43833 Instruct @code{gdbserver} to display extra status information about the debugging
43835 This option is intended for @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to
43838 @item --remote-debug
43839 Instruct @code{gdbserver} to display remote protocol debug output.
43840 This option is intended for @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to
43844 Specify a wrapper to launch programs
43845 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
43846 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
43847 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
43850 By default, @command{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
43851 additional connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
43852 with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
43853 connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session.
43855 @c --disable-packet is not documented for users.
43857 @c --disable-randomization and --no-disable-randomization are superseded by
43858 @c QDisableRandomization.
43863 @c man begin SEEALSO gdbserver
43865 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
43866 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
43867 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
43873 should give you access to the complete manual.
43875 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
43876 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
43883 @c man title gcore Generate a core file of a running program
43886 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gcore
43887 gcore [-o @var{filename}] @var{pid}
43891 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gcore
43892 Generate a core dump of a running program with process ID @var{pid}.
43893 Produced file is equivalent to a kernel produced core file as if the process
43894 crashed (and if @kbd{ulimit -c} were used to set up an appropriate core dump
43895 limit). Unlike after a crash, after @command{gcore} the program remains
43896 running without any change.
43899 @c man begin OPTIONS gcore
43901 @item -o @var{filename}
43902 The optional argument
43903 @var{filename} specifies the file name where to put the core dump.
43904 If not specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}},
43905 where @var{pid} is the running program process ID.
43909 @c man begin SEEALSO gcore
43911 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
43912 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
43913 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
43920 should give you access to the complete manual.
43922 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
43923 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
43930 @c man title gdbinit GDB initialization scripts
43933 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gdbinit
43934 @ifset SYSTEM_GDBINIT
43935 @value{SYSTEM_GDBINIT}
43944 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gdbinit
43945 These files contain @value{GDBN} commands to automatically execute during
43946 @value{GDBN} startup. The lines of contents are canned sequences of commands,
43949 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Sequences}
43950 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n Sequences}.
43956 Please read more in
43958 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Startup}
43959 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n Startup}.
43966 @ifset SYSTEM_GDBINIT
43967 @item @value{SYSTEM_GDBINIT}
43969 @ifclear SYSTEM_GDBINIT
43970 @item (not enabled with @code{--with-system-gdbinit} during compilation)
43972 System-wide initialization file. It is executed unless user specified
43973 @value{GDBN} option @code{-nx} or @code{-n}.
43976 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{System-wide configuration}
43977 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'System-wide configuration'}.
43980 @ref{System-wide configuration}.
43984 User initialization file. It is executed unless user specified
43985 @value{GDBN} options @code{-nx}, @code{-n} or @code{-nh}.
43988 Initialization file for current directory. It may need to be enabled with
43989 @value{GDBN} security command @code{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
43992 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Init File in the Current Directory}
43993 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'Init File in the Current Directory'}.
43996 @ref{Init File in the Current Directory}.
44001 @c man begin SEEALSO gdbinit
44003 gdb(1), @code{info -f gdb -n Startup}
44005 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
44006 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
44007 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
44013 should give you access to the complete manual.
44015 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
44016 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
44022 @node GNU Free Documentation License
44023 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
44026 @node Concept Index
44027 @unnumbered Concept Index
44031 @node Command and Variable Index
44032 @unnumbered Command, Variable, and Function Index
44037 % I think something like @@colophon should be in texinfo. In the
44039 \long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
44040 \centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
44041 \centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
44042 \centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
44043 \centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
44044 \centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
44045 \centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
44046 \centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
44047 \centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
44049 % Blame: doc@@cygnus.com, 1991.